The Plight of the Beaches of Crete

The coastlines of the island of Crete, Greece are retreating at a rate that has increased substantially in the past decade. We describe here specific examples of rapid erosion. As in other parts of the Mediterranean, we infer that the causes are anthropogenic and include sand mining from the beaches and rivers, poor design of coastal structures that create reflection patterns focusing waves on vulnerable areas, removal of sand dunes to build roads, and coastal construction too close to shoreline. The underlying problem is the complete lack of any semblance of coastal zone management in Crete, as in the rest of Greece and substandard design of ports and harbors. We conclude that, unless urgent salvage measures are initiated now to protect the beaches and stop sand mining and dune removal, several beaches will disappear within the next two decades.