The Coastal Resources Management Council is a management agency with regulatory functions. Its primary responsibility is for the preservation, protection, development and where possible the restoration of the coastal areas of the state via the issuance of permits for work within the coastal zone of the state.

The CRMC, in carrying out its mandate to preserve, protect, develop and restore coastal resources for all the people of the state, engages in a variety of activities. Planning for the appropriate use of coastal resources and developing regulations to implement plans are two of its major functions. Permitting to ensure that regulations are followed and investigating allegations of violations are necessary related activities.

The CRMC has engaged in various projects that further its legislative mandate to preserve, protect, develop and restore the state's coastal resources. The following are some recent examples of these efforts:

• Clean Marina Program
• Marine Resources Development Plan
• Dredging
• Aquaculture
• Habitat Restoration and Wetlands
• Rights-of-Way
• Harbor Management Plans

The CRMC is authorized under the federal Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to develop and implement Special Area Management Plans to address specific regional issues. These plans are ecosystem-based management strategies that are consistent with the council's legislative mandate to preserve and restore ecological systems.

The CRMC coordinates with local municipalities, as well as government agencies and community organizations, to prepare the SAMPs and implement the management strategies.