Coast erosion management—The Kelantan case

Abstract

Human activities in the coastal zone are often supported by a physical infrastructure which, in the case of improper understanding of the coastal system can have a dramatic effect on the coastline. This was the case in Kelantan State, Malaysia, where as part of the so-called Kemasin-Semerak Integrated Rural Development Project, river outlets were stabilized by training walls. Within months of the works implementation, serious erosion occurred, which endangered the seaworks and neighbouring fishing boat shelters and coastal communities. Delft Hydraulics was commissioned to study the cause of this erosion, taking into account both the autonomous development of the coast and the impact of the river training works, and to make recommendations for future coast erosion management of Kelantan State.