Background Abruzzo has a 120km long shoreline and a high income from seaside tourism. The region had 10 Blue Flag beaches in 2005 and 2006, making it one of Italy’s leading areas for seawater quality. For several years, the region has supported studies and projects aimed at protecting coastal zones and solving urgent coastal problems. Nonetheless it remains necessary to improve the quality of services and management processes in local institutions. A fundamental goal is to adopt EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit System) in at least two local authorities. Objectives The project aimed to assess the environmental situation in the seven participating municipalities of the Teramo district – Alba Adriatrica, Giulianova, Martinsicuro, Pineto, Roseto degli Abruzzi, Silvi, and Tortoreto. This would enable the establishment of environmental targets and the implementation of a specific planning programme. A further goal would be the introduction of personnel training to underpin the adoption of the EMAS environmental management system. Results Two of the seven participating coastal municipalities of the Teramo district – Martinsicuro and Silvi – adopted EMAS as a result of the ETICA project. A further three municipalities were very close to also achieving EMAS registration. Five of the seven municipalities – Martinsicuro, Pineto, Roseto, Silvi and Tortoreto – obtained ISO 14000 certification. A large quantity of data was collected on the integrated management of the coastal area. As a result, all participating municipalities now possess a complete and up-to-date environmental database. A series of training activities on environmental issues were carried out, involving the municipalities’ and partners’ operators. Communication and dissemination activities carried out by the project included a series of six television programmes on ETICA project activities, broadcast on the main local TV channels; and the creation of a project logo, website, brochures and other documents. The project was also represented at a number of European trade fairs. To inform and involve local stakeholders, each participating municipality gave a presentation on the ETICA project, open to the public. Two workshops on EMAS implementation were organised by the Abruzzo region and Teramo district. A dynamic analysis of systems model was drawn up and tested in order to identify the relations between occupation and tourism development. This simulation gives public administrators and local stakeholders a better understanding of the impact of environmental policies on tourism and the job market. The project also transferred experience to other municipalities of the Teramo coastal area and those involved in the integral management of the regional environment. Environmental benefits of the project included improvements in the handling of environmental matters by the participating municipalities; more monitoring and clearness on significant environmental data; improvements in the planning and monitoring capabilities of local and municipal authorities, including the monitoring of energy use, which led to significant energy savings. Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section).