Communities have naturally evolved on the coast due to their very proximity to the sea and the riches it brings. However, fluctuating demand, depleting natural resources and the discovery of new ones, have meant that coastal peoples have had to be innovative and flexible in order to flourish. Often this means taking a leap into unknown territory, learning new skills and a change in lifestyle.

Many coastal areas that once relied on a specific industry have had to diversify in order to survive. Known as the Silver City in the 19th century due to its granite industry, Aberdeen has had many economic faces: textiles, shipbuilding, whaling and mining all contributed to its economic welfare. But experimental drilling and the subsequent discovery of North Sea oil in 1970 changed its fortunes. It became known as the oil capital of Europe. Today, as oil supplies start to dwindle, Aberdeen is beginning to concentrate on the development of new, renewable energy sources.

Some industries come or go on a grand geographical scale. UK commercial fishing, for instance, has seen a consistent decline in the numbers employed: from more than 100,000 at the beginning of the 20th century (when the population of the whole country was a fraction of what it is today) to just over 12,000 in 2007.

Solutions to such mass change sometimes come from the centre. To ensure the viability of its fishing industry, the RoI is investing over €23M on coastal infrastructure, reducing harbour congestion and improving safety. Castletownbere’s fishing harbour alone received €9.5M in 2008 for the construction of a new quay.

By the seaside

Whether it’s the fascination of the wave, the opportunities for freedom and play, the beauty of the coastline, the refreshing salty air or the sheer awesome energy of the sea, there’s no doubt we’re all drawn to it. But the potential of the coast as a holiday destination didn’t become a reality for most people until well into the 20th century. George IV initiated the tourist trend in the early 19th century when he built his pavilion at Brighton. But a holiday by the seaside was a privilege enjoyed by the few, who went for rest and recuperation or maybe something a bit more racy. However, by the end of the 1930s, 15M inland residents of the UK were going away to the coast for 1–2 weeks and the seaside resort flourished.

This growth was rudely interrupted by the Second World War, when beaches were fenced off with barbed wire and mined against invaders. Post war, tourism was once again a welcome visitor to many UK and RoI coastal areas. The picturesque village of Clifden, Galway, was one of the communities to benefit. ‘My father was the vet in Clifden from 1946 when it was quite isolated,’ says Donal O’Scanaill, shop owner and volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer. ‘The economy was mainly agricultural and it suffered from emigration. But when tourism came in the ’60s, the economy improved dramatically and for the first time the young people were able to find work locally.’

In the early 1970s more than 40M people were holidaying within the British Isles but the burgeoning of packaged foreign holidays decimated the home holiday industry. Excess capacity in the ’80s led to homeless unemployed people from inland towns being housed in coastal B&Bs, what some newspapers cruelly branded the Costa del Dole. With the arrival in the ’90s of budget flights and minibreaks abroad, the domestic holiday seemed doomed.

However, inlanders were discovering the joys of new, exciting and accessible watersports: windsurfing, kitesurfing, kayaking and the like. And residents old and new were becoming more creative in their pursuit of a living.

Seasonal swings

When the weather plays a huge role in the expectations of the tourist, prosperity can be highly seasonal. The Lincolnshire coast, its resorts once patronised by DH Lawrence, is a bustling paradise in the Summer when the weather is good. Long favoured by workers from the industrial towns of the English midlands and north, Skegness is home to the first Butlin’s holiday camp, opened in 1936 and this year sees the RNLI providing a lifeguarding service on Mablethorpe, Skegness and Sutton on Sea beaches in the county (see page 11).

However, in the Winter, the number of holidaymakers dwindles, and earning a living becomes harder. Rising to the challenge, Lincolnshire county council is encouraging the growth of micro businesses and has been instrumental in setting up the Coastal Communities Alliance (CCA). Chair of the CCA, Nicola Precious, is confident that even the current recession will not adversely affect the area because so much income is derived from these new businesses. ‘One of the CCA’s tasks now is the production of a handbook of guidelines for keeping coastal resorts economically healthy throughout the year,’ says Nicola.

The south west of England has already benefited from such a move, drawing visitors to year-round attractions like the Tate St Ives and the Eden Project in Cornwall. Opened in 1993, the Tate is proposing to build an extension due to the volume of gallery goers while, since its opening in 2001, the Eden Project has had more than 8M visitors. Pending the long-awaited artificial reef, surfers are increasingly drawn to Boscombe in Bournemouth, Dorset, through all four seasons, justifying RNLI lifeguards on the beach 365 days a year.

Only too aware of the need to sustain tourism, the RoI is investing over €4.3M for cycle and walking routes, angling facilities and a national coastal path as part of its 2007–13 National development plan. Meanwhile, proposals for a national coastal path in the UK have been resurrected.

A current trend is ‘sustainable’ tourism, which aims to have the lowest possible negative impact on local culture and environment. Visit Wales/Cymru is advertising its locally sourced food and promoting holidays where the visitor feels part of the natural environment.

In a surprising move, Pontins is banking on Britons staying at home in a recession by creating thousands of jobs and planning to invest £50M to update and expand its holiday camps. Bookings for key holiday periods are already high.

Living by the sea

Having sampled the delights of holidaying by the seaside, there has been a trend for many to move lock, stock and barrel to the coastal idyll, perhaps to work remotely, if broadband allows, perhaps to retire.

The risk is that, in very popular areas, this may reduce availability of housing for locals or skew the age profile of populations, pressuring local authority and health services. On the other hand, a fresh intake of vibrant, relatively wealthy, residents, even if part-time, can rejuvenate an ailing, isolated community.

Some localities have come up with a creative solution to housing shortages. People in Appledore in Devon, Worth Matravers in Dorset and Holy Island, Northumberland, are all involved in the forming of not-for-profit property and land trusts. Their aim is to build ‘affordable’ housing for locals. Steve Bendle, a director of Wessex Community Assets that supports these trusts, says: ‘Housing like this is achievable through a combination of free or low-cost land, minimum build costs and subsidies from the Government.’

Butcher, baker, candlestick maker

If the face of coastal towns is changing, so are RNLI volunteers. ‘The RNLI draws from the population that lives or works near the lifeboat stations, which means in some areas we are attracting a very different crew profile,’ says George Rawlinson, RNLI Head of Coast Operations. ‘Today, with the contraction of the fishing and merchant fleets, only 1 in 10 crew members joining the RNLI come from a professional maritime occupation.’

In 2001, the RNLI introduced a competence-based training programme to meet the needs of volunteers with occupations as diverse as teachers, plumbers and graphic designers. The opening of the Lifeboat College in Poole, with its specialist facilities, is the most visible face of this extensive work but, week in week out, crew members take part in training on station (see pages 16–21). The huge financial cost incurred was, of course, the spur to the charity’s Train one, save many campaign.

‘The knock-on effect of fewer communities being employed in maritime activities is that the traditional waterfront businesses such as boatbuilding, chandlery and marine engineering have also decreased. Often the vacated land is regenerated for tourist or housing schemes. Even so, it is becoming more difficult to buy homes near lifeboat stations so, on occasions, people have to travel further to crew the lifeboat,’ says George. ‘Every station is unique and dynamic,’ says RNLI Human Resources Administrator for volunteers, Richard Adams. ‘Despite everything, the number of volunteers willing to risk their lives to save others has remained virtually the same for the past 35 years.’

To the rescue

Changing seaside economics means patterns of sea use are also shifting, particularly from commercial to leisure, so the type of sea rescue service required must adjust. Recognising this, the RNLI conducts reviews of all 235 lifeboat stations every 5 years.

Four times a year, members of the RNLI’s Operations Advisory Committee visit a stretch of 12–15 stations. They talk to operational volunteers at the stations, coastguards and other search and rescue service representatives. They analyse the number and types of service carried out, casualty history and potential, commercial and leisure activity in the area and the efficiency and suitability of the existing lifeboat, equipment and buildings. ‘It’s a real health check of the stations and our service,’ George adds.

The result is that stations can be reconfigured. For instance, following a review in 2004, Sunderland lifeboat station received an Atlantic 75 (now an 85) in place of its Trent class because it was found more suitable in that location.

George agrees this requires understanding and flexibility on the part of the station volunteers but explains: ‘Many of the basic skills for operating a lifeboat are generic and the crew can be sure we’ll provide the training they need to adapt to their specific class of boat.

‘The RNLI has been in a period of change since its founding in 1824. We’ve been opening and closing lifeboat stations to meet the needs of the maritime world for 185 years. One of the reasons we flourish is that we meet changing needs.’