Beach evaluations for management, not for rankings

This perspective paper aims to critically examine the growing misuse of beach evaluations for tourism-driven rankings and to promote reorientation toward scientifically grounded, management-oriented practices. The scientific evaluation of beaches is essential for supporting sustainable coastal management, environmental conservation, and resilience planning. However, in recent years, beach assessments have increasingly been misused to produce non-scientific rankings driven by aesthetic criteria and commercial interests, rather than scientific criteria. This perspective highlights the risks associated with such practices, including misinformation, misallocation of management priorities, and the omission of integrated coastal governance principles. We contend that beach evaluations must serve as tools for management, conservation, and public education—not for competition or tourism marketing. Reaffirming the scientific purpose of beach assessments, promoting standardized multidisciplinary methodologies, and communicating results ethically are critical steps toward preserving the ecological, cultural, and economic values of coastal environments.