Rock island sea defences, Sidmouth Beach, Sidmouth, Devon, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Trogir's historic Stari Grad (Old Town) defensive walls and harbour, Trogir, Dalmatia, Croatia, Europe

Elevated view of city defence walls and Ibiza Town, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ibiza Town, Eivissa, Balearic Islands, Spain, Mediterranean, Europe

Sea Front Harbour and Kamerlengo Fortress, Old Town of Trogir, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Dalmatia, Croatia, Europe

Venetian Castle in front of Lefka Ori Mountains (White Mountains), Frangokastello, Chania, Crete, Greek Islands, Greece, Europe

The castle and coastline, Aci Castello, Sicily, Italy, Mediterranean, Europe

The castle and coastline, Aci Castello, Sicily, Italy, Mediterranean, Europe

Old Cannons, Old Town of Korcula, Island of Korcula, Adriatic Sea, Dalmatia, Croatia, Europe

Sea front and Venetian fortress, Ierapetra, Lasithi region, Crete, Greek Islands, Greece, Europe

Rotting wooden posts of old sea defences on Winchelsea beach at low tide, Winchelsea, East Sussex, England, United Kingdom, Europe

City Wall view, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Dubrovnik, Croatia, Europe

Bare Island, built in1885 against feared Russian attack at La Perouse in Botany Bay National Park, La Perouse was a Frenchman who came here only six days after the First Fleet in 1788, New South Wales (N.S.W.), Australia, Pacific

Southwold pier and wooden groyne at sunset, Southwold, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Royal Navy ships HMS Kent 23 frigate F78, HMS Edinburgh 42 destroyer D97, HMS Dragon 45 destroyer D35, Portsmouth Naval Base

Fishguard Harbour wall and lighthouse with sea defences, Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK

Sedimentary rocks as part of sea defences in County Wexford, Ireland

Rescue helicopter flies over flooded caravan park and railway during flooding in North Wales

Maldon and Blackwater Estuary mudflats and coastal sea defences, Essex, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Storm Barriers, Netherlands

Fishing boat with Saltee Islands in background and sea defences, Kilmore, County Wexford, Ireland

Sedimentary rocks as part of sea defences in County Wexford, Ireland

Fishing boat with Saltee Islands in background and sea defences, Kilmore, County Wexford, Southern Ireland

Tourists taking a lunch break on the pier sea defence wall at Ballyvaughan, County Clare, West Coast of Ireland

Fishing boat with Saltee Islands in background and sea defences, Kilmore, County Wexford, Ireland

Fishing boats at Kilbaha quay harbour and bay, County Clare, West Coast of Ireland

Sedimentary rocks as part of sea defences in County Wexford, Ireland

Old cannons on the southern coastline of St. Eustatius, Statia, Netherland Antilles, West Indies, Caribbean, Central America

Building sea defences, Bryer, Scilly Isles, United Kingdom, Europe

Building sea defences, Bryer, Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom, Europe

A road eroded and dropping off into the North sea at Happisburgh, Norfolk, a rapidly eroding section of coastline, UK.

Gale force winds and crashing waves battering the coastal defences in Harrington, Workington, Cumbria, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Gale force winds and crashing waves battering the coastal defences in Harrington, Workington, Cumbria, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Gale force winds and crashing waves battering the coastal defences in Harrington, Workington, Cumbria, England, United Kingdom, Europe

A road eroded and dropping off into the North sea at Happisburgh, Norfolk, a rapidly eroding section of coastline, UK.

Common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) preying on blue jack mackerel (Trachurus picturatus), Azores, Portugal, Atlantic, Europe

Common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) preying on blue jack mackerel (Trachurus picturatus), Azores, Portugal, Atlantic, Europe

Common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) preying on blue jack mackerel (Trachurus picturatus), Azores, Portugal, Atlantic, Europe

Common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) preying on blue jack mackerel (Trachurus picturatus), Azores, Portugal, Atlantic, Europe

Common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) preying on blue jack mackerel (Trachurus picturatus), Azores, Portugal, Atlantic, Europe

Shark thought to be a tope with a zebra fish in attendance passes a large ball of blue jack mackerel (Trachurus picturatus) mid ocean, Azores, Portugal, Atlantic, Europe

Common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) preying on blue jack mackerel (Trachurus picturatus), Azores, Portugal, Atlantic, Europe

Common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) preying on blue jack mackerel (Trachurus picturatus), Azores, Portugal, Atlantic, Europe

Ball of blue jack mackerel (Trachurus picturatus), Azores, Portugal, Atlantic, Europe

Common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) and Cory's sheerwaters (Calonectris diomedea) preying on blue jack mackerel (Trachurus picturatus), Azores, Portugal, Atlantic, Europe

Common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) preying on blue jack mackerel (Trachurus picturatus), Azores, Portugal, Atlantic, Europe

Common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) preying on blue jack mackerel (Trachurus picturatus), Azores, Portugal, Atlantic, Europe

Common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) preying on blue jack mackerel (Trachurus picturatus), Azores, Portugal, Atlantic, Europe

Common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) preying on blue jack mackerel (Trachurus picturatus), Azores, Portugal, Atlantic, Europe

Common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) preying on blue jack mackerel (Trachurus picturatus), Azores, Portugal, Atlantic, Europe

Concrete sea defences at Beach Bank Caravan Park in Ulrome near Skipsea on Yorkshires East Coast, UK. The coast is composed of soft boulder clays, very vulnerable to coastal erosion. This section of coast has been eroding since Roman times, with many villages having disappeared into the sea, and is the fastest eroding coast in Europe. Climate change is speeding up the erosion, with sea level rise, increased stormy weather and increased heavy rainfall events, all playing their part.

A Second world War lookout post leaning alarmingly and about to tumble over the edge of the cliff near Aldbrough on Yorkshires East Coast, UK. The coast is composed of soft boulder clays, very vulnerable to coastal erosion. This section of coast has been eroding since Roman times, with many villages having disappeared into the sea, and is the fastest eroding coast in Europe. Climate change is speeding up the erosion, with sea level rise, increased stormy weather and increased heavy rainfall events, all playing their part.

A BP chemical plant at salt End on Humberside which produces Acetic Acid and a gas fired power station It is vulnerable to coastal flooding, and although sea defences were constructed some years ago, climate change driven sea level rise and increased stromy weather, leaves it vulnerable to inundation.

Repairing damage caused to the coastal sea defences in Blakeney, Norfolk by the December 2013 storm surge.

The Remains of the Godwin battery on the beach at Kilnsea at the head of Spurn point on Yorkshires East Coast, UK. Initially constructed during the First World War, the Godwin Battery was added to during the Second World War. It comprised of gun emplacements, search light, barracks, officers’ mess, and a hospital. This section of coastline is the fastest eroding coastline in Europe. The soft boulder clay cliffs are easily eroded and have been eroding since Roman Times, but recently the climate change impacts of increased stormy weather, increased heavy rainfall events and sea level rise have accelerated the rate of erosion. The average rate of attrition is 1.5metres per year, last year it was 5 metres.

The Remains of the Godwin battery on the beach at Kilnsea at the head of Spurn point on Yorkshires East Coast, UK. Initially constructed during the First World War, the Godwin Battery was added to during the Second World War. It comprised of gun emplacements, search light, barracks, officers’ mess, and a hospital. This section of coastline is the fastest eroding coastline in Europe. The soft boulder clay cliffs are easily eroded and have been eroding since Roman Times, but recently the climate change impacts of increased stormy weather, increased heavy rainfall events and sea level rise have accelerated the rate of erosion. The average rate of attrition is 1.5metres per year, last year it was 5 metres.

Common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) preying on blue jack mackerel (Trachurus picturatus), Azores, Portugal, Atlantic, Europe

Common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) preying on blue jack mackerel (Trachurus picturatus), Azores, Portugal, Atlantic, Europe

Common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) preying on blue jack mackerel (Trachurus picturatus), Azores, Portugal, Atlantic, Europe

Common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) preying on blue jack mackerel (Trachurus picturatus), Azores, Portugal, Atlantic, Europe

Gale force winds and crashing waves battering the coastal defences in Harrington, Workington, Cumbria, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Gale force winds and crashing waves battering the coastal defences in Harrington, Workington, Cumbria, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Gale force winds and crashing waves battering the coastal defences in Harrington, Workington, Cumbria, England, United Kingdom, Europe

The lifeboat launching ramp destroyed as waves crashing against the coast at Happisburgh on the fastest eroding section of the UK coast, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom, Europe

The Breach at Alkborough created in the sea defences to allow sea water to flood agricultural land and create a wetland for wildlife, Humber Estuary, Humberside, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Bulldozers rebuilding the storm beach in Cley, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Storm waves breaking over the sea wall at Blackpool, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

The lifeboat launching ramp destroyed as waves crashing against the coast at Happisburgh on the fastest eroding section of the UK coast, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Steps that are the only way to access the beach following recent erosion, Happisburgh, North Norfolk, England, United Kingdom, Europe

The lifeboat launching ramp destroyed as waves crashing against the coast at Happisburgh on the fastest eroding section of the UK coast, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Sand bags placed by local residents of Lanikai, in an attempt to mitigate erosion affecting this East Oahu beach, Oahu, Hawaii, United States of America, Pacific

Sand bags placed by local residents of Lanikai, in an attempt to mitigate erosion affecting this East Oahu beach, Oahu, Hawaii, United States of America, Pacific

Combatting coastal erosion on a beach on the outskirts of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Pacific

Entrance to Jangseunpo Bay, Geojedo Island, South Korea, Asia

People dodging storm waves breaking over the sea wall at Blackpool, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

The lifeboat launching ramp destroyed as waves crashing against the coast at Happisburgh on the fastest eroding section of the UK coast, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom, Europe

The lifeboat launching ramp destroyed as waves crashing against the coast at Happisburgh on the fastest eroding section of the UK coast, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Gentoo penguin parent (Pygoscelis papua) with chicks in Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Cardiff Bay Barrage, Cardiff, Wales, UK, Europe

Concarnaeu, France

Sea wall construction, Dale, Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK, Europe

Break wall, beach front, sun set, afternoon, walk

Julians Bower, an ancient maze near The Breach at Alkborough created in the sea defences to allow sea water to flood agricultural land and create a wetland for wildlife, Humber Estuary, Humberside, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Waves crashing against sea defences at Happisburgh on the fastest eroding section of the UK coast, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Autumn and winter storms eroding the coastline of Shishmaref, a tiny island inhabited by around 600 Inuits, between Alaska and Siberia in the Chukchi Sea, United States of America, North America

A flood evacuation sign in a caravan park in Kinmel bay that is susceptible to coastal flooding, Wales, United Kingdom, Europe

Julians Bower, an ancient maze near The Breach at Alkborough created in the sea defences to allow sea water to flood agricultural land and create a wetland for wildlife, Humber Estuary, Humberside, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Cardiff Bay Barrage, Cardiff, Wales, UK, Europe

Cardiff Bay Barrage, Cardiff, Wales, UK, Europe

The lifeboat launching ramp destroyed as waves crashing against the coast at Happisburgh on the fastest eroding section of the UK coast, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Cardiff Bay Barrage, Cardiff, Wales, UK, Europe

Seawall, saltmarsh, Goldcliff, Gwent Levels, Newport, Wales, UK, Europe

The Breach at Alkborough created in the sea defences to allow sea water to flood agricultural land and create a wetland for wildlife, Humber Estuary, Humberside, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Large rocks placed on the shore of the west coast of Walney Island, to prevent coastal erosion, Cumbria, England, United Kingdom, Europe

The Breach at Alkborough created in the sea defences to allow sea water to flood agricultural land and create a wetland for wildlife, Humber Estuary, Humberside, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Gentoo penguin parent (Pygoscelis papua) with chicks in Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Sea wall, Gold Cliff, Severn Estuary, Wales, UK

The Breach at Alkborough created in the sea defences to allow sea water to flood agricultural land and create a wetland for wildlife, Humber Estuary, Humberside, England, United Kingdom, Europe

The Breach at Alkborough created in the sea defences to allow sea water to flood agricultural land and create a wetland for wildlife, Humber Estuary, Humberside, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Julians Bower, an ancient maze near The Breach at Alkborough created in the sea defences to allow sea water to flood agricultural land and create a wetland for wildlife, Humber Estuary, Humberside, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Wales, UK, Europe