Coastal Zones

Biography

Biography: Dr Hugh Kirkman

Abstract

As the world’s oceans become more available, more easily crossed and their resources more easily exploited there is a need for management of them all. This review covers some of the present attempts at marine spatial planning (MSP) with the particular emphasis on sustainable resource use and conservation of biological diversity. Definitions of ecosystem based management (EBM) are coupled with MSP to suggest means and types of governance. Trade-offs on resources lost for remediation, recovery and the values of goods and services are discussed. The advantages and barriers to good MSP require coordination, understanding and goodwill of all stakeholders. Management requires monitoring, evaluation and recording of the resources being managed. In some parts of the world transboundary cooperation is well advanced and we can learn from them. In other parts MSP is at a very low level and it can be seen that conflicts between stakeholders, even countries can occur. Examples are given of global efforts to conserve marine biological diversity using conventions, international agreements and “soft law”. MSP in southeast Asia is focussed on as an example of how it is attempted in developing countries. Marine protected areas are an important part of MSP and have come into consideration as more and more of the oceans waters and substrates are exploited.