The goal of integrated planning is the preparation of a comprehensive plan which specifies the means to effectively balance environmental protection, public use and economic development to achieve the optimum benefit for all concerned. The integration of activities usually involves coordination between data gathering and analysis, planning and implementation. This final point is the essence of the management side of the definition. Coastal management is the process of implementing a plan designed to resolve conflicts among a variety of coastal users, to determine the most appropriate use of coastal resources, and to allocate uses and resources among legitimate stakeholders. Management is the actual control exerted over people, activities and resources.
Public participation plays a key role in both planning and management.
Coastline Management is managing a coastline in such a way that the CZM-policy can be executed. The technical means to maintain a coastline vary considerably. However, this is technical detailing of coastline management, and not coastal zone management.