2026 International Coastal Access Symposium Summary Report
| dc.contributor.author | Winkler, Nicolas | |
| dc.contributor.author | Harrison, Hannah L. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Hull, Lily | |
| dc.contributor.author | Manuel, Patricia | |
| dc.contributor.author | Kofahl, Mike | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-06-10T18:55:18Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-06-10T18:55:18Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2026-06-09 | |
| dc.description | Coastal access is the ability for people to travel to, and laterally along, the coastline from both the seaward and landward side (sometimes considered as perpendicular and parallel access). Access to coastal spaces - specifically a lack thereof - is a problem shared by coastal communities around the world that are impacted by the high desirability of coastal spaces, coastal development, tourism, dynamic coastal processes (i.e., erosion), and the impacts of climate change. Coastal access issues are often rooted in historical social injustices that are perpetuated today resulting in complex policy problems. Globally, less than 16% of the world’s coastlines remain mostly unimpacted by humans. Therefore, understanding how humans share the coast is imperative to both social and ecological coastal sustainability and the maintenance of robust, high-quality, equitable coastal access. On March 26th, 2026, the Coastal Access Working Group (CAWG), based in Nova Scotia, Canada, hosted the inaugural International Coastal Access Symposium (ICAS). This virtual symposium invited speakers from around the world to share stories, research, and policy insights and advances related to protecting, preserving, and enhancing public coastal access. Hosted in partnership with the Ecology Action Centre, Dalhousie University and East Coast Environmental Law, this free event aimed to enhance public discussions about coastal access and create an opportunity for participants to learn from each other and contribute to ongoing advancements in coastal access research and advocacy. The symposium was structured around four sessions of live presentations, each with time for questions, discussions, and informal networking. This report provides a summary of the event and insights gathered by the organizing committee. | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | Ecology Action Centre Dalhousie University East Coast Environmental Law | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10222/86091 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Dalhousie University, Marine Affairs Program | |
| dc.title | 2026 International Coastal Access Symposium Summary Report | |
| dc.type | Other |