Integrated coastal management (ICM) is widely accepted throughout the world as the best approach to dealing with coastal issues. The 1990s saw a proliferation of legislative reform processes worldwide. This aimed at supporting the implementation of ICM. Despite many international environmental treaties, declarations and other promises of action, the quality of coastal environments continues to deteriorate while the demand for coastal resources has increased in most of the world. This publication, in its practical guidance, will be especially valuable to anyone involved in the development, drafting or implementation of a legal or institutional framework to promote ICM. It is enhanced by illustrative examples from a range of countries that are at various stages of developing and implementing legislation to promote ICM.