The coastal zone is a highly sensitive area, where a number of ecosystems exist in a state of balance. The coast is affected not only by local conditions but also by events and conditions long distances away. Pressures from human habitation and economic development are common in the coastal areas of the world. The management of such an area is of necessity an integrated and multidisciplinary effort. Coastal zone management encompasses the concepts of integrated resource management and sustainable development. Integrated coastal management requires balancing a wide range of ecological, social, cultural, governance and economic considerations. An important concept is co-management, where local stakeholders share aspects of governance with the government, and community participation is an essential part of the management process. Active research and monitoring programs play a key role in providing sets of management options and potential consequences. With sustainable development, the needs of the human population can be met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainable development must not endanger the atmosphere, water, soil and the ecosystems that support life on earth. Any development process requires change. In the case of sustainable development, the use of resources, economic policies, technological development, population growth, and institutional structures are in harmony and enhance current and future potential for human progress. Integrated coastal zone management was defined at an International Coastal Zone Workshop in 1989 as "a dynamic process in which a coordinated strategy is developed and implemented for the allocation of environmental, socio-cultural, and sustainable multiple uses of the coastal zone." (CAMPNET, 1989). The key words and phrases in this definition can be expanded to make the definition more understandable:

A strategy for integrated coastal zone management, though not yet fully implemented everywhere in the Wider Caribbean region, is the key for ensuring the survival and sustainable development of the coastal resources in the region.