Theresa Rodriguez-Moodie and Diana McCaulay | Reclaiming Jamaica’s coastline

Most Jamaicans today probably cannot remember a time when they could simply go to the beach without paying to enter. Over the decades, many of Jamaica’s best beaches and coastal areas have been developed or zoned for hotels, villas, and other private uses. Little by little, public access to the coastline has become more limited.

Concerns about beach access are not new. Jamaicans were raising these issues as far back as the 1950s. In response, the Beach Control Act was introduced in 1956. The law gave the Government control over the foreshore and seabed, but access often depended on licences, special permissions, or long-standing use by communities such as fishers. At the same time, exclusive licences were also given to private developers and businesses. Over 70 years later, many Jamaicans still do not have a clear right to access the coastline. Instead, public access has continued to shrink as tourism development, private projects, and competing uses of coastal land have expanded.

In 2020, A Draft Beach Access and Management Policy for Jamaica was shared with the public, and some consultations were held. It was not until March 2026, however, that the prime minister, Dr Andrew Holness, announced the tabling of the final Beach Access and Management Policy for Jamaica. This is the latest attempt to reconcile public expectations with private-development interests and environmental protection.

While the policy affirms the importance of public access in principle, it still stops short of clearly guaranteeing Jamaicans the right to freely access the country’s coastline.

BEACHES AS A PUBLIC COMMONS

Many people, community groups, and environmental advocates have long called for a different approach to how Jamaica’s beaches and coastline are managed: treating them as shared public spaces that belong to all Jamaicans and should be protected for future generations.

This means recognising beaches not just as economic assets or private-development opportunities but also as places for recreation, culture, fishing, relaxation, and connection to nature. It would also mean ensuring that people can freely and safely access the coastline without unnecessary barriers.

To achieve this, Jamaica would need to move away from a system that relies heavily on licences and discretionary access. Instead, it requires a framework anchored in guaranteed public rights, transparent governance, and strong environmental stewardship.

Recognising beaches as public commons would not create an entirely new legal principle. Rather, it would build upon responsibilities already reflected within Jamaica’s legal framework, where the State already exercises stewardship over aspects of the coastline in the public interest.

This approach would not necessarily remove licences altogether. Licences could still be used to regulate commercial activities and protect sensitive environments. They should, however, not be granted in ways that limit or weaken the public’s right to access.

TOWARDS A COASTAL-MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK

The Beach Access and Management Policy recognises the importance of ecosystem-based approaches, climate resilience, and science-based decision-making. In practice, however, responsibility for coastal management is spread across several different agencies, including those dealing with tourism, fisheries, environmental protection, and physical planning. This can lead to overlap, gaps, and decisions that are not always well coordinated.

What is needed is a clearer system that brings these efforts together and ensures that scientific evidence is consistently used in real planning and development decisions. One option could be the creation of a Coastal Commission, or similar statutory body, to provide this coordination and oversight while building on the work already undertaken by existing agencies. 

Such a body could help to coordinate shoreline monitoring, including tracking erosion and sea-level rise; ensuring that coastal-development decisions are guided by scientific evidence and set and update important planning tools such as coastal setback lines. It could also strengthen coordination between key agencies, improve public education about coastal risks and responsibilities, and provide a space to help resolve conflicts over coastal use.

Overall, this kind of framework would help ensure that decisions about Jamaica’s coastline are better coordinated, more responsive to climate change, and grounded in the public interest.

MANAGING THE TRANSITION

Meaningful reform will not happen overnight. It will require changes to existing laws and a stronger policy approach that prioritises public access alongside environmental protection, supports development, and ensures that coastal use does not harm future generations.

During this transition, Jamaica should take a careful, managed approach. This could include temporarily pausing approvals for new coastal development in ecologically sensitive or heavily contested areas while stronger planning and governance systems are put in place. This would be especially important in areas that are still largely undeveloped, where decisions made now will shape the coastline for decades to come.

This pause would also help address a key gap in the current system: development approvals made today are not always required to reflect updated climate science, erosion trends, or long-term environmental risks. Once approved, these developments are difficult to change even if new information shows that they are unsafe or unsustainable.

There is also a risk that during a reform process, there could be a rush of applications as developers try to secure approvals before new rules are introduced. This could weaken the purpose of the reforms and lock in decisions that are not aligned with future coastal protection goals.

A managed transition would create space to review coastal policy more carefully, including questions of access, development limits, and environmental carrying capacity. It would allow appropriate development to continue while giving vulnerable and contested coastal areas the time and protection needed until stronger systems are in place.

RECLAIMING THE SHORELINE

The issue of Jamaica’s beaches is not just about sand and sea. It is really about fairness, rights, and how the coastline has slowly shifted from a shared space to one that is increasingly restricted.

Jamaica now has a chance to take a different path. Instead of fragmented decisions and case-by-case access, the country can move towards a clearer and fairer system. This would mean treating beaches as a shared public resource, improving how coastal decisions are coordinated, and protecting vulnerable areas while change is being made. 

Together, these steps can help ensure that Jamaica’s shoreline remains open, well-managed, and protected for both present and future generations.

Theresa Rodriguez-Moodie is an environmental scientist and chief executive officer of the Jamaica Environment Trust, and Diana McCaulay is the founder of the Jamaica Environment Trust. Send feedback to [email protected]