Implementing an Ecosystem-Approach to Ocean Management: An Assessment of Current Regional Governance Models
27 Pages Posted: 17 Feb 2006
Abstract
The two recent national ocean policy studies considering the fate of United States' oceans in the twenty-first century, conducted by the Pew Oceans Commission and the United States Commission on Ocean Policy (USCOP), were largely in agreement on some very fundamental issues. First, both commissions concluded that human activities have severely stressed ocean systems and that major changes in ocean management are needed to stop degradation of ocean resources and to restore and protect the oceans for future generations. Second, the commissions found that better management of the oceans required an ecosystem-based approach implemented through coordinated, regional mechanisms. But the jurisdictions of our federal and state governments are not organized to operate or take actions at regional levels. Any proposals to implement the goals of a regional, ecosystem-based approach to ocean management must therefore consider how regional mechanisms would be structured and how they would function in our federal system. This paper discusses the various regional governance structures and approaches to coordination and compliance that the reports, the executive level Ocean Action Plan, and the current legislative initiatives propose. It is clear from these responses that the widespread agreement that a regional approach is needed has not led to widespread consensus what kind of response is necessary to deal with the mismatch between governance structure and the need for eco-regional governance of the oceans.
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