Courtown Beach is a good example of how human activities have protected the coast from natural erosion processes.
In County Wexford erosion rates are some of the highest in the country, up to two metres per year in places. Severe erosion of more than 1 m per year affects 13 km of Wexford coast.
Courtown is a major tourist centre in the county. The tourist industry in the Gorey/Courtown area has been built up around the Blue Flag beach at Courtown.
Coastal erosion of the beach at Courtown has been a major problem. Action has had to be taken to protect the beach. In addition, the dune and backshore area is an area of scientific interest. Any further dune erosion will lead to the loss of significant areas of tourist and amenity land as well as environmental damage to the adjacent woodland area.