part, while the northernmost area is bounded by existing detached
breakwaters (Fig. 2). The jetty, constructed in 2004 in order to
prevent a clogging of an irrigation channel, has completely blocked
alongshore sediment transport coming from the south. The existing
detached breakwaters were constructed by the Marine Department
in 2008 in order to protect coastal erosion further north. There have
been many structural attempts by various governmental agencies
to mitigate the erosion, including seawalls, ripraps, and T-groins
(Fig. 2). However, it seemed that detached breakwaters are the only
measure that can successfully protect the coastline, and were the
only structure that had gained community acceptance
(Saengsupavanich et al., 2009). Therefore, the Marine Department
planned to construct more detached breakwaters at the study site.
However, the new legislation announced by ONEP in August 2009
stopped the planned construction, as an approved EIA for the
additional breakwaters was required.