Shaffer, J.A.; Oxborrow, B.; Parks, D.S.; Maucieri, D.G., and Michel, J., 2025. Linking marine ecosystem response to shoreline armor removal and large dam removals in the Elwha River and nearshore, Washington, USA. Journal of Coastal Research, 41(1), 1–15. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

Large in-river dams and shoreline armor have a significant negative effect on coastal hydrodynamic and ecosystem processes. Armor removal (AR) is a well-documented shoreline restoration tool, and removal of large dams is proving to be an extremely effective tool to restore riverine ecosystem processes. However, nearshore ecosystem restoration associated with dam removals (DRs) is incomplete when shoreline impediments, including shoreline armoring and lower river alterations, remain, and linkages between dam and shoreline ARs are not well understood. In this study, nearshore ecosystem processes and function restoration response to large DRs and shoreline AR are assessed. Two nearly century-old large dams in the Elwha River watershed in the NW United States were removed during 2011–14, which liberated upward of 18 million tonnes (Mt) or approximately ∼9 million m³ of silt, sand, and gravel to sediment-starved, armored, and unarmored shorelines. Within 1 year of the initiation of DR, unarmored shorelines in the drift cell broadened, flattened, sediment fined, and large woody debris (LWD) volumes significantly increased. Armored shorelines continued to be steep and coarse grained. In 2016–17, approximately 4700 m³ of large riprap (shoreline armor) was removed from more than 650 m of the armored Elwha River east delta reach drift cell. Following AR, previously eroding shorelines broadened, sediment fined, LWD volumes increased significantly, and beach wrack metrics resembled non-armored beaches. These changes followed AR and did not occur at unarmored DR or control treatments. Invertebrate communities also responded to dam and armor removal (DAR) and showed increasing trends every year for 3 years after the project. It is concluded that only partial nearshore ecosystem restoration occurs from large DR when shoreline armoring that impairs nearshore hydrodynamic processes remains and that full ecosystem restoration of the nearshore associated with large DRs is obtained by restoring impaired shorelines along with DRs.

Bae, J. and Sherman, D.J., 2025. Microscale morphologic changes caused by groundwater seepage on a macrotidal beach. Journal of Coastal Research, 41(1), 16–26. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

Beach groundwater dynamics and groundwater seepage (exfiltration) are important agents of morphologic change in the intertidal zone and are controlled mainly by the relationships between local water level, the elevation of beach water table, and the permeability of beach sediments. Groundwater seepage can alter sediment transport processes on beaches through regulating saturation on the beach face and generating shear stresses sufficient to initiate sediment transport. This study investigates seepage dynamics in the context of a macrotidal beach and consequent erosion, deposition, and seepage-induced morphologic changes. Data were collected from the west coast of South Korea, at Hakampo Beach, where the spring, mean, and neap tide ranges are 6.5, 4.6, and 2.8 m, respectively. Beach morphology and changes were measured using terrestrial LiDAR. Beach groundwater levels were measured with a series of wells. Sand samples were taken and analyzed to characterize beach face texture and to estimate beach permeability. The water table and sediment data were used to estimate seepage flows at low water, using Darcy's law. The relationship between seepage rates and morphologic changes was examined with geographically weighted regression analysis. The results show that seepage-induced offshore transport occurred in the intertidal zone below groundwater seepage lines during spring tide, whereas transport was concentrated along seepage-induced tidal rills during neap tide. This highlights the importance of recognizing the variability in seepage discharge with different tidal ranges, especially in the context of potential flow rates exceeding the threshold for sediment transport. This study also points to the control of breaks in beach face slope and concomitant changes in grain size in the location of the groundwater seepage line in macrotidal environments.

Ernest, R.G.; Martin, R.E.; Desjardin, N.A.; Scripter, M.J.; Scarola, J.C.; Kim, H., and Trindell, R., 2025. Changes in loggerhead sea turtle nesting behavior on a nourished beach in southeast Florida. Journal of Coastal Research, 41(1), 27–48. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

Under Florida's Strategic Beach Management Plan, large volumes of sand dredged offshore are routinely placed on beaches to mitigate shoreline erosion, a process known as beach nourishment. Sandy beaches, vital to the state's tourism economy, are also biologically critical to NW Atlantic loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). Long-term data have shown that nourishment projects can negatively affect sea turtle nesting behavior, and to date, no design changes have effectively ameliorated these impacts. The frequency of beach nourishment projects in Florida will likely increase with a changing climate, and thus, it is imperative that they be designed and built to enhance sea turtle nesting habitat. In this study, real-time kinematic GPS and binned logistic regression analyses were used to identify changes in loggerhead sea turtle nesting success, beach utilization, and nest placement associated with a beach nourishment project on Hutchinson Island, Florida. Beach profile characteristics (width, slope, and elevation) were analyzed before and after nourishment to determine the likelihood of a turtle either nesting or abandoning its nesting attempt. Results showed that: (1) fewer loggerhead nests were placed on the nourished beach, even though the number of nesting attempts was similar before and after nourishment; (2) the percentage of nests washed out on the wide, flat nourished beach was 3.5 times greater than on the narrower, naturally sloped beach that preceded nourishment; and (3) a change in the cross-sectional beach profile was most strongly associated with decreased odds of nesting following nourishment. It is recommended that future nourishment projects in central and southeast Florida be designed and constructed, in consideration of local conditions, with as much slope as possible from the waterline to the dune.

Mariappan, S.; Ravikumar, T.; Neethiselvan, N.; Dineshkumar, E.; Dhilipmaniraj, N.; Gomathy, V., and Manickavasagam, S., 2025. Economic and seasonal analysis on catch rate of fish traps operated along the coast of Thoothukudi, southeast coast of India. Journal of Coastal Research, 41(1), 49–56. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

Fishermen along the Thoothukudi coast of India use arrowhead fish traps measuring 90 cm in length, 76 cm in breadth, and 40 cm in height. Direct observational surveys were conducted fortnightly from January 2022 to December 2022. Across 24 fishing trials, these traps yielded a catch of 2900 fishes, weighing 997.5 kg. Scarus ghobban exhibited a significantly higher mean catch per unit effort (CPUE) of 12.79 kg per trip than other species. The monthly mean CPUE for arrowhead fish traps was 41.6 kg per trip. Statistical analysis (analysis of variance) revealed that both species and season had significant effects on CPUE (p < 0.05), indicating notable variations in CPUE among species and across seasons. The pre-monsoon season exhibited the highest CPUE (51.8 kg per trip), followed by winter (51.1 kg per trip), monsoon (37.5 kilograms per trip), and postmonsoon (30.3 kg per trip) seasons, suggesting potential seasonal fluctuations in fishing activity or fish abundance, likely influenced by environmental factors such as weather and oceanographic conditions. The trap fishery at Therespuram fishing village showed promising economic benefits, with a benefit-cost ratio of 1.64. The study period revealed that traps operated at Therespuram fishing village were rigid, leading to limited traps being carried onboard fishing vessels. Consequently, the present study suggests that collapsible traps be employed to significantly reduce onboard space requirements. This adaptation would enable fishermen to carry more traps, potentially resulting in increased catches.

Vicens-Miquel, M.; Tissot, P.E.; Colburn, K.F.A.; Williams, D.D.; Starek, M.J.; Pilartes-Congo, J.; Kastl, M.; Stephenson, S., and Medrano, F.A., 2025. Machine-learning predictions for total water levels on a sandy beach. Journal of Coastal Research, 41(1), 57–72. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

Coastal inundation can significantly impact beach management and conservation efforts, particularly as the frequency of such events increases due to relative sea-level rise. Therefore, improved, timely models are needed to predict the potential degree of coastal inundation accurately. Existing numerical models and observational platforms were investigated, and their capabilities and limitations were highlighted. Despite advancements, accurate coastal inundation forecasting remains a challenge. This is primarily because tide gauge water-level measurements are approximately a meter below the actual total water level, which includes wave run-up. To address this issue, a machine-learning approach is proposed to predict total water levels on a beach, incorporating local and regional metocean data and wave run-up along the central Texas Gulf Coast. This unique approach involves installing cameras in the study area to record images and videos every 30 minutes. Additionally, beach-profile surveys were conducted bimonthly to measure the elevation across the berm using conventional surveying methods. Beach-profile surveys facilitated the creation of digital elevation models, which, combined with imagery, allowed for extracting the wet/dry shoreline elevation. This elevation indicates the most landward point reached by water on the beach, combining tides, surge, and wave run-up, defined in this paper as the total water level. Combining this technique with tide gauge and wave buoy data facilitated the creation of a 1-year dataset that served as input for a multilayer perceptron model. Two versions are presented: a high-performance and an operation-ready model. Both satisfy the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration criterion that the central frequency of 15 cm exceeds 90% for both 24- and 48-hour predictions during nonfrontal months. The success of this novel machine-learning application for predicting total water levels, including wave run-up, is presented; however, model performance during the frontal months will require additional improvements.

Mamatha, P.K.; Anil Kumar, A.; Jayappa, K.S.; Mohan, K.G.; Subhradeep Das; Anupama, L.C., and Shaniba, V., 2025. Multitemporal analysis of shoreline changes along the southwest coast of India: Inferences from geological, geomorphological, geophysical, and remote-sensing studies. Journal of Coastal Research, 41(1), 73–82. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

In a multitemporal study of the coastal stretch between the Chandragiri and Karingotte River mouths, Kasaragod District, Kerala State, on the southwest coast of India, an interesting relationship was noticed between nearshore geological structures extending from the hinterland and the ongoing shoreline changes. An inferred structural weak plane running across the offshore domain and hinterland along the minor Chittari River divides the study area into two sectors. Seasonal- to annual-scale shoreline changes measured using beach profiles corroborate the results of decadal- to centennial-scale changes observed in remote-sensing data and millennial-scale data observed geomorphologically. On an annual to centennial scale, the shoreline on the northern part of the Chittari River manifests erosion while the counterpart on the southern side exhibits accretion. The results of millennial-scale processes revealed through geomorphology are distinct in the two sectors, where the northern part has characteristic geomorphologic features of a submerging coast, while the southern part has features of an emerging coast. Geophysical studies confirmed the presence of several structural faults and lineaments intersecting at the Chittari River mouth, and structural failures in the recent past along these fault planes confirm that this area is tectonically active. These geological structural factors stand out as the most prominent causative factors in configuring the coastline of this area when compared with other common causes of shoreline changes.

Tranchant, J.; Fenech, D.; Gauci, C.; Ghirxi, D.; Martins, I.F.; Colica, E., and Buhagiar, G., 2025. Evaluating Ordnance Survey sheets (1890s–1957) for shoreline change analysis in the Maltese Islands: Identification of differences in cartographic techniques and precision. Journal of Coastal Research, 41(1), 83–93. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

The assessment of coastal erosion through shoreline change analysis is an exercise of national utility undertaken in many countries. The Maltese Islands are particularly vulnerable to coastal erosion given the economic value of coastal activities and the islands' high ratio of coast-to-land surface. The integration of historical cartographic material is often used to hindcast shoreline change across long periods, as well as to model future erosion rates. The Public Works Department has produced detailed 1:2500 maps of Malta in collaboration with the British Ordnance Survey from the end of the 19^th century to 1957; however, these maps have not been scientifically assessed until now. The initial research evaluated the usefulness of the two oldest 63.5-cm Maltese map series (early 20^th century and 1957) for shoreline change analysis. The two series were digitized, georeferenced, and compared in a GIS environment to assess their differences. Inaccuracies of the original drawings, absent shoreline indicators, and the absence of a geographic coordinate system (datum and projection) were identified as limitations for their use in evaluating small gradual changes, but the series were ideal for the identification of stochastic, large-scale, historic erosion events using difference maps. This assessment showed that the two series are highly congruous and that changes between the two series are largely attributed to changes in infrastructure. There were minor exceptions, and these need to be explored case by case. These methods and the insights garnered from their production will function as scientific stepping stones toward developing a holistic coastal erosion national monitoring program.

Shalini, R.; Arisekar, U.; Jeyasekaran, G; Shakila, R.J.; Sundhar, S.; Sivaraman, B., and Tamizhselvan, S., 2025. Mineral composition of the commercially valuable fish and shellfish caught along the Thoothukudi Coast, Southeast India. Journal of Coastal Research, 41(1), 94–104. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

The SE coast of India boasts a diverse array of fish species, influenced by its geographical features, coastal habitats, and marine ecosystems. To study the nutritional value of fish and shellfish, the concentration of seven minerals (calcium [Ca], magnesium [Mg], iron [Fe], zinc [Zn], copper [Cu], manganese [Mn], and selenium [Se]) in 28 commercially valuable finfish, crustaceans, cephalopods, and bivalves along Thoothukudi region of the SE coast of India was analyzed using an inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometer. Based on the concentration, the minerals were in the order of Mg > Ca > Fe > Zn > Cu > Mn > Se. The mineral concentration varied among different finfish and shellfish. The highest total mineral concentration was recorded in oysters (Magallana bilineata; 112.8 mg/100 g), followed by ribbonfish (Trichiurus lepturus; 74.7 mg/100 g), and flower shrimp (Penaeus semisulcatus; 71.6 mg/100 g). The Indian mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) and ribbonfish recorded the highest Ca (36.4 mg/100 g) and Fe (7.42 ± 2.25 mg/100 g) concentrations. Among shellfish, M. bilineata recorded the highest concentration of Ca (38.3 mg/100 g), Cu (3.73 mg/ 100 g), Fe (5.02 mg/100 g), and Zn (28.7 mg/100 g). The results indicate that ribbonfish, goldenstripe sardine, Indian mackerel, and oysters are good mineral sources. This study provides the baseline data regarding the mineral concentration of valuable finfish and shellfish along the SE coast of India.

Bergner, J.; Wallin, D.; Yang, S., and Rybczyk, J., 2025. Using drone-captured imagery and a digital elevation model to differentiate eelgrass species: Padilla Bay, Washington. Journal of Coastal Research, 41(1), 105–121. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

There are two primary species of eelgrass at the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Zostera marina, a native eelgrass, and Zostera japonica, a nonnative. Recently, unoccupied aerial systems (UAS) have been used for eelgrass monitoring and mapping since imagery can be collected frequently and during different seasons. This project, conducted from April to September 2022, utilized UAS imagery, elevation data, and eelgrass vegetation surveys in the intertidal zone to identify regions with Z. japonica–dominant, mixed, and Z. marina–dominant cover. Multispectral imagery, using random forest (2000 trees) classification and eelgrass vegetation survey data, was used to predict eelgrass cover categories. Z. japonica–dominant, mixed, and Z. marina–dominant cover differed spectrally due to speciation and canopy characteristics, but low Z. japonica–dominant cover and exposed mud significantly decreased the accuracy in predicting that cover class in April and May. The overall accuracy predicting Z. japonica–dominant, mixed, and Z. marina–dominant cover was 75% using multispectral data alone. When multispectral imagery was combined with a 1-m-resolution digital elevation model (DEM) with a vertical error of 4.3 cm, the overall accuracy rose to 89%. Accuracy for each cover category rose as well. Most notably, Z. japonica–dominant cover rose from a user's accuracy of 71% to 92%. Z. japonica–dominant cover increased by 0.3 km² from April to September. Mixed cover slightly increased from April to May, and Z. marina–dominant cover remained relatively consistent through the months. This is the first study to yield highly accurate classification between Z. japonica– and Z. marina–dominant cover, and results can be further improved through additional management of spectral variation.

Du, J.; Yan, B., and Su, X., 2025. Empirical analysis of financial agglomeration, industrial infrastructure, and economic growth of the marine industry: Using the PVAR model to analyze China's marine economy. Journal of Coastal Research, 41(1), 122–130. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

To promote the high-quality development of China's marine economy, based on the panel data of 11 coastal provinces and cities from 2006 to 2016, the panel vector autoregression (PVAR) model was used to analyze the dynamic relationships among financial agglomeration, upgrades in marine industrial structure, and economic development. Based on the cointegration test, a long-term stable relationship was found between the three variables of financial agglomeration, marine industry structure upgrades, and the development of the marine economy, where financial agglomeration inhibits the growth of the marine economy, and a suitable interaction mechanism cannot be formed between the two, whereas upgrading of the marine industry structure is conducive to the development of the marine economy. In the short term, financial agglomeration can promote the upgrading of the marine industry structure, but the long-term effect is not ideal; in the long run, the development of the marine economy can encourage improvement in the level of financial agglomeration. In the short term, the development of the marine economy is mainly affected by itself and the upgraded marine industry structure, but in the long run, the inhibitory effect of financial agglomeration to the marine economy is greater.

Iyyappan, T.; Santhakumar, R.; Arul Oli, G.; Padmavathy, P.; Athithan, S., and Arisekar, U., 2025. Enterprise attributes and hazard risks in the ornamental fish trade: Implications for ecosystem integrity and stakeholder engagement in southeast India. Journal of Coastal Research, 41(1), 131–145. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

The release of freshwater and marine ornamental pets serves as a significant vector for introducing invasive species and hazards into ecosystems. Preventive measures are essential to reduce the risk of hazards in the ornamental fish trade, but little is known about biosecurity practices after the fish have crossed borders. Hence, the perception of enterprise attributes and the potential biosecurity gaps, and their effects on aquatic ecosystems and stakeholder involvement were evaluated using the survey. This study aimed to fill this knowledge gap by incorporating questionnaires to collect information on the actual biosecurity activities and hazard responses practiced by ornamental fish retailers and farmers in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The study's key findings on the most dominant non-native species in the market and farming reveal that postborder preventive practices within the ornamental fish supply chain may not effectively minimize the risk of introducing hazards. Also, alarming statistics indicate that 44.17% of unwanted, dead, and sick fishes are disposed of in drainage, ponds, and rivers, further exacerbating environmental concerns. Most frequently, fish diseases are treated with drugs and antibiotics such as malachite green oxalate, trichlorfon, and formalin, as well as oxytetracycline and chlortetracycline, without proper guidelines and consultation with fishery experts. Therefore, it is imperative to allocate resources to enhance pre-and at-border control measures, including risk-based surveillance of ornamental fish imports. Additionally, these findings should inform targeted awareness campaigns and provide directed training on biosecurity practices and environmental education for individuals involved in the postborder stages of the ornamental supply chain.

Griggs, G.B. and Battalio, B., 2025. Short- and long-term risks of back beach development along the California coast. Journal of Coastal Research, 41(1), 146–179. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

California's beaches in their natural, predevelopment state, like all beaches, would narrow under the impact of winter storm waves and then widen again the following spring and summer. Between the mid-1940s and 1978, the coast of California experienced a cooler and generally calmer Pacific Decadal Oscillation cycle with generally milder and less frequent El Niño events and little coastal storm damage. This was also the period following World War II when California's population grew rapidly, and the landward portions of a number of California's once wide beaches were developed with private homes, commercial establishments, and also public infrastructure during times when these beaches were wide and inviting. In recent decades, however, this development has been repeatedly impacted by short-term extreme events, typically very large waves arriving simultaneously with extreme high tides, often during major El Niño events, which further elevate water levels. Reduction of sand supplies and fluctuations and changes in the wave climate have also been factors in these impacts to shoreline development. Over the long term, rising sea levels will increasingly add to the shoreline challenges facing both private development and public infrastructure. Realistic solutions or responses are limited, however, and include armor and repeated beach nourishment. These are expensive and will only be effective over a few decades at best. Climate change is real, it's now, and it's everywhere. While homeowners understandably are not interested in managed retreat, if not managed, then it will be unmanaged. Each of the state's oceanfront communities where back beach development is being threatened or has been damaged or destroyed needs to identify their most vulnerable assets or development and, using California's most up-to-date assessment of future sea levels and short-term extreme events, plan for the future when maintaining or protecting these areas will no longer be feasible.

Stalter, R. and Lonard, R.I., 2025. Biology of the threatened Amaranthus pumilus Raf. and Amaranthus greggii S. Watson along coastal beach fronts in North America. Journal of Coastal Research, 41(1), 180–183. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

The cosmopolitan genus Amaranthus is represented by 60 to 75 species in North America. Two species, Amaranthus pumilus and Amaranthus greggii, are restricted to sandy barrier island habitats in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico regions of North America. Amaranthus pumilus is a federally and globally threatened species. An opportunistic species that occurs under favorable strand conditions, A. pumilus disappears for extensive periods because of storms, erosion, or human disturbance. Typical habitat sites for A. pumilus are between the high tide mark and lower coppice foredunes and in overwash flats. Amaranthus greggii occurs on sandy barrier islands in the Gulf of Mexico from Louisiana to Texas and from Tamaulipas to the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. Amaranthus greggii usually occurs above the mean high tide mark in the lee of flotsam to the margins of low foredunes, and it is subject to elimination by storm surges, erosion, and sand coverage.

Leatherman, S.P., 2025. Collapsing sand holes: Unrecognized beach hazard. Journal of Coastal Research, 41(1), 184–186. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

Digging holes on sandy beaches may appear to be an interesting pastime, but it can also be a very dangerous endeavor when the holes are too deep and especially when the participants are children. While wetted sand can hold up to a 90-degree angle, exposed sand in a hole will eventually dry and collapse episodically. Also, the hole can collapse if another person stands on the edge. Sand burial and suffocation can result from the lack of understanding of the danger of sand holes.