Christchurch Borough Council is one of 88 maritime district councils in whom is vested the responsibilities for controlling coastal erosion under the Coast Protection Act 1949.

Coast protection is the protection of the land from erosion by the sea. West Dorset has approximately 44 kilometres (27 miles) of coast. About 4 kilometres of this is protected by coastal protection schemes.

Purbeck District Council has a coastline of approximately 100km, which extends from Poole Harbour in the east to White Nothe in the west. The coastline includes the southern boundary of Poole Harbour and the islands within it.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council is the Coast Protection Authority, under the Coast Protection Act 1949, within its borough boundaries between Redcliff Point in the east and The Fleet in the west.

Dorset is lucky enough to have a stunning coastline which is internationally recognised as a World Heritage Site.