Sandy beaches, from the surf zone to the dunes, connect land and sea. They support unique biodiversity and provide benefits people rely on, including recreation and tourism, coastal protection, and fisheries. Yet management often prioritises appearance and short-term convenience, which can degrade habitats and accelerate biodiversity loss.
A key component of beaches is ‘wrack’: seaweed and seagrass that wash ashore. Wrack fuels beach food webs, offers feeding and shelter for wildlife, and contributes to nutrient and carbon cycling. It also influences sand dynamics and post-storm recovery. Despite this, wrack is commonly removed through mechanical grooming, while in some situations (e.g., invasive species) removal may be appropriate. Municipalities therefore face a practical question: when should wrack be retained, relocated, buried or removed to balance biodiversity, coastal resilience, recreation, public health and livelihoods?
TIDELINES will generate comparable ecological and social evidence across regions and translate it into feasible, locally adapted wrack management options co-produced with stakeholders and decision-makers.
