Routledge handbook of national and regional ocean policies

In: Routledge handbooks

Abstract

"This comprehensive handbook, prepared by leading ocean policy academics and practitioners from around the world, presents in-depth analyses of the experiences of 16 developed and developing nations and four key regions of the world that have taken concrete steps toward cross-cutting and integrated national and regional ocean policy. All chapters follow a common framework for policy analysis. It is shown that while most coastal nations of the world already have a variety of sectoral policies in place to manage different uses of the ocean (such as shipping, fishing, and oil and gas development), it has only been in the last two decades that coastal nations have undertaken concerted efforts to articulate and implement an integrated vision for the governance of ocean areas under their jurisdiction. This includes goals to harmonize existing uses and laws, to foster sustainable development of ocean areas, to protect biodiversity and vulnerable resources and ecosystems, and to coordinate the actions of the many government agencies that are typically involved in oceans affairs. The book highlights the serious conflicts of use in most national ocean zones and the prescriptions articulated in both the Law of the Sea and in the Earth Summit. These are shown to be linked by the interrelationship among uses and processes in the coast and ocean, such that ocean and coastal governance must be integrated, precautionary and anticipatory. Overall, the book provides a definitive state-of-the-art review and analysis of national and regional ocean policies around the world. "--