Coastal and marine areas represent one of the most relevant spaces on a global scale to address management and conservation processes. Firstly, this is due to the interactions that characterise the area of exchange between land and sea. Secondly, it is the area where the main population settlements are located. However, there is no agreed definition of the scope of the coastal zone for management, and legal delimitations usually simplify the reality, making it impossible to develop Ecosystem Based Management in these areas. The research advances on a proposal for a conceptual and geographical delimitation of coastal areas from a socio-ecological perspective. The results show a delimitation of the coastal area based on two large geographical areas: The Coast and the Coastal Zone. The first one includes the Coastal Water, the Intertidal Area and the Shoreland. Seconly, the Coastal Zone is fundamental for understanding certain ecosystemic and social phenomena, and includes two units: Coastal Zone Water and Coastal Land. The proposed socio-ecological limits do not always coincide with the legal limits, which is why this article analyses in depth, for the case of Andalusia (Spain), the state and regional legislation on coastal matters. With all this, ideas are proposed on which to introduce socio-ecological delimitation into the legal limits and thus advance towards Ecosystem-Based Management in coastal and marine areas.

沿海和海洋区域是全球范围内处理管理和保护过程最相关的空间之一。首先，这是由于陆地和海洋之间交换区域特征的相互作用。其次，是主要人口聚居地所在地区。然而，沿海地区的管理范围没有统一的定义，法律划界通常会简化现实，因此无法在这些地区开展基于生态系统的管理。该研究从社会生态角度提出了沿海地区概念和地理划界的建议。结果显示了基于两个大地理区域的沿海地区划分：海岸和沿海地区。第一个包括沿海水域，潮间带和海岸带。其次，海岸带是理解某些生态系统和社会现象的基础，它包括两个单元：海岸带水域和海岸带土地。提议的社会生态限制并不总是与法律限制相一致，这就是为什么本文深入分析安达卢西亚（西班牙）的案例，即关于沿海事务的州和地区立法。有了这一切，提出了将社会生态划界引入法律界限的想法，从而在沿海和海洋地区推进基于生态系统的管理。提议的社会生态限制并不总是与法律限制相一致，这就是为什么本文深入分析安达卢西亚（西班牙）的案例，即关于沿海事务的州和地区立法。有了这一切，提出了将社会生态划界引入法律界限的想法，从而在沿海和海洋地区推进基于生态系统的管理。提议的社会生态限制并不总是与法律限制相一致，这就是为什么本文深入分析安达卢西亚（西班牙）的案例，即关于沿海事务的州和地区立法。有了这一切，提出了将社会生态划界引入法律界限的想法，从而在沿海和海洋地区推进基于生态系统的管理。