Experiences on coastal legislation and its application in Spain: possible contribution to the Mexican case

Abstract

The existence of a regulatory framework is the primary basis for regulating the use and development of marine and coastal zones. Mexico lacks specific legislation for this type of space, although the need for it has been identified for more than a decade. In this sense, the analysis of successful cases of coastal regulatory frameworks implemented in other countries can provide key elements to be adapted and incorporated into the proposed Coastal Law in Mexico. The case of coastal legislation in Spain is an interesting example to analyze, since three laws have been elaborated for coastal areas, the first in 1969, and the experiences that can be gathered from their evolution during 54 years may be important to be adapted and incorporated in a future proposal for a Coastal Law in Mexico. The goal of this work is to identify key elements in the evolution of coastal regulations in Spain, based on a systematic bibliographic review and its analysis, with the purpose of identifying key elements to propose their incorporation, adapting them to the specific Mexican context, in the process of creating a Coastal Law in Mexico. The main results obtained are the identification of four proposals to be incorporated into the Mexican case: the establishment of a protection easement, the incorporation of an access easement, the definition of an influence zone, and the creation of a decentralized Federal administrative entity to coordinate the administration and management of the coasts. Finally, as a result of the Mexican experience in coastal management, it is proposed the establishment of an Inter-ministerial Commission for Seas and Coasts in Spain as a space for decision-making in the management of these spaces, from an integral perspective that can favor the Integrated Management of Coastal Zones.