Coasts are among the most dynamic and vulnerable environments on our planet. In Kerala, India's southwestern coastal state, reports revealed that 41% of the shoreline is eroding, threatening communities, livelihoods, and infrastructure. In response, the Government of Kerala has invested heavily in coastal protection; today, nearly half of the coastline is armoured with structures such as seawalls and groynes.

Yet, despite this scale of intervention, a fundamental question remained unanswered: How well are these structures actually performing?

A statewide survey begins

In August 2022, our team of 10 scientists from the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), divided into 4 groups, set out to answer this question. Over 15 days, we travelled the entire 593 km Kerala coastline, spanning 9 districts, and systematically mapped and evaluated 331 km of seawalls and 459 gryones.

The survey, conducted in collaboration with the Kerala Irrigation Department (KID), was not limited to documenting structures alone. We also recorded geomorphological features, sediment conditions, and functional performance indicators, providing a unique, state-scale perspective on coastal protection. 

From survey to science

The insights from this unprecedented field campaign formed the basis of our recent publication in the Journal of Coastal Conservation.

“Statewide Field Assessment of Coastal Protection Structures in Kerala, India: Structural and Functional Insights.”

Our study showed that while coastal protection structures provide localised protection, many were in varying stages of disrepair, and their functional performance often depended on seasonal conditions, such as the erosive impact of the southwest monsoon. Importantly, our evaluation also highlighted zones where multiple defence types overlapped, revealing both opportunities and challenges in integrated management.

Policy impact: Kerala's first Shoreline Management Plan

Beyond research, this work directly informed practice. Using the field dataset and analysis, Kerala's first Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) was developed by NCCR in partnership with the state government. The SMP provides evidence-based guidance for future interventions, balancing protection needs with geomorphological realities.

Scaling out: Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry

The Kerala survey was not an end but a beginning. The methods developed during this pilot - standardised field protocols, performance evaluation frameworks, and integration of geomorphology with engineering - were later extended to Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry, supporting the preparation of their SMPs as well. This demonstrates how a state-level field study can scale into a national framework for coastal resilience.

If you are interested in what these documents look like, you can check out the Puducherry SMP document available officially from their website at this link: https://dste.py.gov.in/ppcc/pdf/publichearing/czmp-2019/Draft_SMP.pdf

Looking ahead

As climate change intensifies coastal hazards, adaptive and hybrid approaches will be essential, combining hard protection with nature-based solutions and dynamic shoreline management. This research is one step toward that future, showing how rigorous field science can bridge the gap between local observations and state-wide planning.

For us researchers, the project was not only about structures and coastlines, but also about collaboration between scientists, government departments, and coastal communities. The lessons learned in Kerala continue to guide our work, with the hope of building resilient coasts for the generations to come.