Ecological and Physical Coastal Consultants Limited

EU Legislative Interests

Interest representation focuses on evidence-based input for EU initiatives on coastal resilience, marine environment, water management, climate adaptation, spatial planning, surf-ecosystem protection, and nature restoration, with emphasis on nature-based solutions (NbS) and hybrid green–grey approaches. Key dossiers/policies: European Green Deal and EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change (incl. Mission on Adaptation): risk assessment, coastal adaptation pathways, NbS deployment, and funding alignment. Nature Restoration Law (NRL): restoration targets for coastal/marine habitats (dunes, saltmarsh, seagrass, reefs), monitoring frameworks, and implementation guidance. Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD, 2008/56/EC): Good Environmental Status: biodiversity, sea-floor integrity, hydrographical conditions and links to shoreline morphology/wave-quality sensitive areas. Water Framework Directive (WFD, 2000/60/EC) and Floods Directive (2007/60/EC): catchment-to-coast flood risk management, natural water retention measures, and integrated river–coastal planning. Maritime Spatial Planning Directive (MSP, 2014/89/EU): coexistence between offshore renewables, ports/dredging, conservation, fisheries, tourism, and surf breaks; safeguarding wave-quality areas within MSP plans. Habitats & Birds Directives (92/43/EEC; 2009/147/EC) and Natura 2000: coastal species/habitat conservation and impact avoidance. Environmental Assessment acquis EIA Directive (2011/92/EU as amended by 2014/52/EU) and SEA Directive (2001/42/EC): robust assessments for coastal/marine projects, including NbS and hybrid solutions. Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy and Blue Economy initiatives: site selection, cumulative effects, and mitigation/compensation compatible with coastal processes. EU Taxonomy Regulation and related sustainable finance: recognition and financing pathways for NbS, blue carbon, and coastal restoration. Complementary links to Bathing Water Directive (recreation/public health) and Soil/Water pollution files where coastal water quality is implicated. Primary fora/committees of interest: ENVI, PECH, REGI, ITRE; services including DG ENV, DG MARE, DG CLIMA, DG REGIO. Geographic relevance includes Atlantic/outermost regions (e.g., Azores) with knowledge transfer from projects in Portugal/Europe, the US (California), Central & South America, New Zealand and the Pacific.

Communication Activities

Planned communication focuses on transparent, technical knowledge-sharing: Public consultations & calls for evidence: submission of technical notes, datasets, and case-study syntheses on NbS, flood/erosion risk, MSP and surf-ecosystem safeguards (MSFD, WFD/Floods, NRL, Adaptation Strategy). Expert briefings & roundtables: presentations to MEP offices/committee staff and Commission services (DG ENV/MARE/CLIMA/REGIO) on practical implementation, monitoring, and financing of coastal NbS and hybrid measures. Events & conferences (EU-facing): participation in European Maritime Day, EU Green Week, Mission Adaptation Forum, Blue Economy events, and relevant Parliament intergroup briefings; potential co-hosting of niche technical sessions on coastal restoration and MSP-surf interactions. Publications & outreach: short policy briefs, restoration design guides, and open-access case studies (Portugal/Azores, California, Central/South America, Pacific) illustrating replicable methods, cost bands, and monitoring indicators. Stakeholder workshops: engagement with regional authorities and coastal communities (incl. outermost regions) to translate EU policy into site-specific roadmaps and trigger financing. International touchpoints aligned with EU priorities: contributions at UN Ocean Conference (Nice 2025), Our Ocean Conference (Busan 2025), and Save the Waves / World Surfing Reserves forums—sharing lessons that support EU coastal and marine objectives. All materials follow the EU Transparency Register Code of Conduct, with methods/data sources cited and (where possible) published for independent review.

Interests Represented

Promotes their own interests or the collective interests of their members

Member Of

Corporate memberships/affiliations (period concerned): eCoast operates as an independent consultancy. Collaboration with Save The Waves Coalition / World Surfing Reserves (Ericeira and North Devon) occurs on a project/technical-advice basis; no corporate governance role or financial sponsorship is declared. Individual affiliations held by staff (non-institutional; for transparency): Volunteer/advocacy participation with Save Azores Waves (Portugal); advisory input to. Individual professional memberships held by staff (non-institutional; listed for transparency): • Engineers Australia - including Chartered Professional Engineer / Fellow status among senior staff. • Ordem dos Engenheiros (Portugal). • New Zealand Coastal Society. • Sustainable Ocean Alliance – Young Ocean Leaders (staff participation). • Advisory involvement with World Surfing Reserves (via staff role on the Vision Council).

Organisation Members

Not applicable. eCoast is a privately owned consultancy and does not have a membership structure. No parent company, subsidiaries, or controlled affiliated entities in the EU to declare. A regional office in Fiji supports Pacific operations. Project partners are engaged case-by-case under contract (e.g., ICEM, C2O Pacific, O2 Metocean); these are not members or affiliates within the meaning of the Register. Team and associates are described here: www.ecoast.co.nz/about

Additional Information

No client representation during the period. Any pro bono technical advice provided to third parties was not directed to EU institutions; EU interactions were carried out in the company’s own name.