A term used to describe the protection afforded by coastal habitats (e.g. mudflats,
sand/shingle beaches, saltmarshes or sand dunes) and/or artificial structures
(e.g. sea walls, breakwaters and groynes), which prevent flooding of the land
by the sea. Sea defence structures are frequently used to provide 'protection'
for the existing coastline i.e. as part of a strategy to 'hold the line'.
