The South Shore will face further erosion if stringent protections are not put in place, experts have warned.

Environment engineering company Smith Warner said yesterday that Hurricane Fabian severely damaged a number of coastal areas including the South Shore last year and these areas are at high risk for further erosion.

At a press conference yesterday, Smith Warner revealed the results of a year-long study and announced guidelines to protect fragile coastal areas.

The company said planning regulations must be developed with environmental protection in mind and that Bermuda?s coastline properties must be protected while ensuring a natural or semi-natural appearance is preserved.

Dr. David Smith of Smith Warner said data from the report will be used by the Department of Planning to establish new regulations in the Development Plan Review.

But Dr. Smith warned that if nothing was done to protect coastal properties, erosion of Bermuda?s shoreline would continue and would be exacerbated by future storms and hurricanes.

Harrington Sound, according to the report, has also been defined as a high risk area for coastal erosion where research is to be conducted into eroding organisms which are weakening a distinct portion of the coast along Harrington Sound.

Other findings of the report show that in areas where waves are not the primary erosion agent, such as inland waterways, seawalls can be considered. Public infrastructure such as coastal roads and bridges, such as the Causeway, should be armoured with sloping rocks or concrete units able to withstand severe wave forces and to dissipate most of the wave energy.

Jetties and docks must also be constructed where berthing of vessels is to occur and must be built from timber, concrete, or plastic polymer. Jetties and docks, according to the report, should be located in areas where wave heights are less than 0.3 metres for 97 percent to 99 percent of the time ? requirements that ensure no breakwater structure will be necessary.

A significant portion of the report was devoted to design and construction of seawalls which included recommendations for foundations keyed into solid rock, steel reinforcing incorporated into structural design, seawalls that are tied into adjacent structures, rock outcrops, and stone balustrades that should be avoided since they act as projectiles in a hurricane and can cause additional damage.

Other recommendations include vegetation growth along dunes and in areas where cliffs are undermined, they should be packed with stones grouted with concrete.

Erika Smith, Assistant Director of Forward Planning, said the recommendations would tighten up development regulations in fragile coastal areas and potentially turn open land into protected coastal zones.

Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield said: ?The underlying theme is that a balance must be sought between letting nature take its course and the construction of shoreline defences to protect life, property, and infrastructure.?