Some of Kerry's finest tourist beaches are under threat due to the removal of sand, rock and gravel and activity from cars and quad bikes.
A range of new by-laws and prohibitory orders are now being proposed to protect the coast.
Erosion is accelerating along the county's 1,000km of coastline, according to a report published by the environmental protection department of Kerry County Council.
The public had to realise that there was no automatic entitlement to taking material from a beach or coastal area, Mr Fergus Dillon, senior engineer with Kerry County Council warned in the report.
"The removal of material from the foreshore is tantamount to the removal of the county's coastal defences," he said.
Recently damage had been done to sensitive glacial cliff coastline in Waterville and in parts of west Kerry.
Contrary to popular belief, coastal sediment was not "an infinite resource" and it needed to be protected, Mr Dillon said.
The imposition of a prohibitory order on the removal of material would be sought from the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources under the Foreshore Act.
Fines of up to €254,000 and/or imprisonment of up to five years could be imposed under the order.
By-laws are also being introduced to prohibit quad bike racing on all popular beaches such as Inch Strand where it has become a significant problem and where the protected dune system is under threat.
Driving directly onto this and other beaches is also to be stopped under the proposed by-laws. Caravanning and erecting a tent will also be prohibited on what are now popular camping beaches.