Coastal erosion, extreme climate events, and the loss of biodiversity are important consequences of climate change that directly impact our society. The needs to develop effective engineering practices using nature as model and mentor are now emerging aimed to develop high-performance coastal infrastructures integrating and sustaining local marine ecosystems. In this scenario, the present article describes the concept development and preliminary experimentation of simplified bioinspired models to evaluate their hydraulic performances. This study is part of a future vision to develop submerged barriers, printed with eco-friendly materials, characterized by high hydraulic performances and cable of supporting local biodiversity. Following a top-down approach, the functional features of key organisms were abstracted and transferred to create three bioinspired models. The hydraulic performance of these models is analyzed in terms of wave transmission, reflection, and dissipation under various wave conditions. Under certain circumstances, the bioinspired barriers demonstrate wave attenuation comparable to traditional submerged breakwaters. A method based on skin friction and drag-related processes provides a simple heuristic explanation of how the shape of the models affect the transmission coefficient. The results achieved offer valuable insights for the design of future coastal defense systems that are inspired by, and integrated with, natural ecosystems.

Coastal erosion, extreme climatic events, and biodiversity loss are major consequences of climate change, posing significant threats to both the environment and society. Addressing these challenges has led to a growing focus within industrial design on innovative, interdisciplinary approaches inspired based bioinspired design. Natural ecosystems have evolved over millions of years to create highly efficient structures that dissipate wave energy, stabilize shorelines, and support biodiversity, offering valuable models for sustainable coastal protection. These biological principles serve as a reference model for the design of high-performance and sustainable coastal defense solutions. This study reviews the state of the art in coastal protection systems and introduces the conceptual development and preliminary experimental validation of simplified bioinspired models designed to enhance shoreline resilience. The hydraulic efficiency of these models was assessed through experimental testing, exploring their potential as innovative mitigation strategies against irregular and extreme wave conditions. This research contributes to the development of next-generation submerged barriers, inspired by the morphology and functionality of natural systems, constructed from sustainable materials, and optimized for both hydraulic efficiency and ecological support. Following a top-down approach, key functional traits of biological structures were analyzed, abstracted, and translated into three distinct bioinspired design solutions for coastal protection. The results provide a foundation for advancing sustainable coastal protection strategies, demonstrating the added value of bioinspired solutions in enhancing both shoreline resilience and ecological integration.