The need for strategic and sustainable coastal policies lead to the EU ICZM Recommendation of May 2002. However, some stakeholders discuss that an ICZM Directive should be proposed. This increase demand for regulations and decision support is producing a “boom” of Plans and Strategies at different scales and levels. The general and integrated character of strategies makes them useful in large scales, as the European or National levels. But, when operational actions are need, they tend to be programmed at a regional/local level and mostly based on Spatial Planning. On Small Islands the need fo new models and scientific knowledge for a more sound Coastal Management is on debate.

The discussion on this paper evolves around the strategies to be developed on Small Islands, as those territories have distinctive features, problems and needs. The case study to support the discussion will be the elaboration of Coastal Zone Mnagement Plans for four Small Islands in the Azores Archipelago: Santa Maria; Graciosa; Flores and Corvo.