Coastal lagoons have formed where marine inlets or embayments have become partly or wholly enclosed by depositional spits and barriers, built up as a sequel to the world-wide Holocene marine transgression. Spits and barriers consist of sediment (sand, shingle) derived from the sea floor or carrier alongshore from river mouth or eroding cliff sources; they have been shaped primarily by wave action, some migrating landward while others have remained in position or prograded seaward. A modern prevalence of erosion on barrier coastlines, recession resulting from net losses of sediment offshore, alongshore, or landward has been deomonstrated. This is the outcome partly of rising sea level and partly of diminishing sediment supply. Often the consequence of man's impacts on coastal environments. Examples are given of changes that have resulted from the cutting of artificial entrances through barriers to the building of barriers across tidal inlets to exclude marine penetration.