Background A major problem for all countries bordering the Sea is the cleaning of the beaches, which is necessary to ensure high-quality touristic utilisation and to improve the value as resort. In addition to stranded ship waste, beaches in many regions are polluted, in particular, by drifting organic material such as algae, kelp and sea grass. Until now, there are no alternatives for cleaning the beaches in Europe. Large sea grass meadows are to be found, for example, in Baltic offshore waters. The biogenous raw material sea grass (Zostera marina) is torn off by rough seas and floated to the beaches in large quantities together with green, red and brown algae, kelp, sea sponges and other organic matters. In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern alone 30.000 tons and in the Basin of Arcachon 20.000 tons are floating ashore every year. Stranding of drifting organic matter relieves the Baltic Sea from substances which contribute to the eutrophication of the sea. However, this is only the case, if the stranded organic matter is removed and not washed back into the sea. If the drifting matter remains on the beach, the greenhouse gas methane develops very rapidly from the easily decomposing substances (algae, kelp, sponges). The sea grass itself decomposes only slowly and accumulates on the beach. Due to the pollution associated, the odour caused by the rotting processes and insects attracted, the touristic value of the beach resort is impaired. Objectives The overall objective of the project was the sustainable development of coastal regions including economic and ecological aspects. The coastal region Kluetzer Winkel in the western part of Mecklenburg (Germany), the Danish island Møn and the Basin of Arcachon (France)serve as the demonstration areas for the realisation of an integrated coastal zone management. The project exhibits how, with regard to ecological aspects, an environmentally friendly regional development of a formerly purely agricultural territory can be directed towards touristic utilisation as an equal economic factor. Development of the touristic use of the territory will accompany problem solutions regarding the maintenance of the beaches and the environmentally friendly use or disposal of natural waste (development from technologies to reception, drying and separation of biogenous jetsam) and regarding the exemplary development of new technologies for the processing of biogenous raw materials (used in construction, as insulating material, or as paper). In the course of the development of a regional material cycle and the manufacturing of new products from biogenous materials, previously treated as waste, the several project partners intend to employ 14 people during the project time. When the project is finished, it is expected that up to 60 new permanent jobs will have been created in the various regions. Results According to a follow up report carried out in 2005 by the LIFE external monitoring team, the project resulted in a viable business. It has received entrepreneurial awards and was especially active on the communication front: -It was featured by a number of TV stations, in reports of up to 45 minutes length. It has featured on the main German public service channels (ZDF, ARD) and five others such as ARTE. - Over 119 articles were published in regional and national newspapers as well as in specialist magazines. - The project was active in Germany, Denmark and France. For each country a minimum of two flyers and information files were disseminated. - The project partners participated in 24 fairs with their own stands and presented the Regional Cycle project on 28 meetings in Germany, France, Denmark, Belgium and Tunisia. - Additionally more than 19 information events were carried out for a broad variety of target groups - 10 workshops were organised with a total of more than 450 participants. - 112 participants from seven countries attended the final international congress held in Gross Schwansee, Germany (5-6 September) 2003. See the project website at: http://www.life-seegras.de/.