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Soft engineering does not involve building artificial structures, but taking a more sustainable and natural approach to managing the coast. Each strategy has its advantages and disadvantages.

Beach nourishment

Sand is pumped onto an existing beach to build it up.

Advantages

• Blends in with the existing beach.
• Larger beaches appeal to tourists.

Disadvantages

• Needs to be constantly replaced.
• The sand has to be brought in from elsewhere.

Beach reprofiling

The sediment is redistributed from the lower part of the beach to the upper part of the beach.

Advantages

• Cheap and simple.
• Reduces the energy of the waves.

Disadvantages

• Only works when wave energy is low.
• Needs to be repeated continuously.

Sand dune stabilisation

Marram grass planted on sand dunes stabilises the dunes and helps to trap sand to build them up.

Advantages

• Relatively cheap.
• Maintains a natural-looking coastline.

Disadvantages

• Can be damaged by storm waves.
• Areas have to be zoned off from the public (to avoid trampling of newly-planted grass), which may be unpopular.