In summary, a generic definition of coastal areas is not proposed here. Rather, a pragmatic view of defining a coastal area is taken, where the definition reflects the use or uses to which it will be put. If the purpose is to control certain types of development, then fixed, variable or hybrid definitions may be used. If reducing pollution of marine waters is the purpose, then variable definitions including catchment or groundwater boundaries may be more appropriate. By focusing on coastal management issues, and not on problems of definition, simple and workable definitions of coastal areas usually follow.