Striking a Balance Improving Stewardship of Marine Areas (1997) / Chapter Skim
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5. Improving Marine Governance
5. Improving Marine Governance
Pages 87-102
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From page 87... ...
. The Brundtland report points out the inextricable links between the problems of environmental degradation, poverty, overpopulation, and unsustainable development, all of which must be attacked together.
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From page 88... ...
These include: · the Coastal Zone Management program in 30 coastal states and territories, under which focal points have been created to harmonize state, local, and federal activities with state coastal policies and good coastal practices the National Marine Sanctuary program, under which area-wide marine management programs are put in place in important ocean areas off the U.S. coast the National Estuary Program, under which multi-agency and multijurisdictional approaches are being developed on a water-body-wide basis for major estuaries in the United States These three programs demonstrate that it is possible, under the existing legislative framework and in certain situations, to improve marine area governance.
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From page 89... ...
This modern federalist model would give the states critical authority for carrying out many of the functions of government for which they are ideally suited because of their proximity
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From page 90... ...
A federalist marine governance system would have the following basic components: . a National Marine Council to coordinate the activities of federal agencies, define national responses to global problems, monitor the marine environment, facilitate regional solutions to marine problems, and encourage interagency problem solving · regional marine councils to address complex governance issues at the operational level conditions that make it easier for individual federal programs to succeed a wide range of management tools that would make regional councils and individual agencies more effective National Marine Council The role of the central governing body in a federalist model differs from the same role in a hierarchical, command-and-control model.
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From page 91... ...
This latter function would be carried out in conjunction with either existing entities involved in marine activities or with newly created regional marine councils (described below)
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From page 92... ...
Although numerous constitutional, executive, and congressional pronouncements have been made regarding the federal role in managing the marine environment, they do not add up to a national agenda with priorities for scarce federal resources. The National Marine Council should define the nation's strategic priorities for sustainable use of the marine environment on a regular basis.
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From page 93... ...
Data from fisheries and biological data from other sources including from the academic research community should be included in a nationwide monitoring network. The National Marine Council should compile and publish monitoring information that highlights environmental progress or indicates risks to marine resources.
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From page 94... ...
Role of Regional Marine Councils In situations where there are complex or long-standing conflicts or risks, the committee recommends the creation of regional marine councils representing federal and state agencies and other stakeholders. Members should be appointed by
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From page 95... ...
Second, the fishery management councils did not include representatives of a broad range of interests concerned with the overall health and utilization of the marine environment. The regional marine councils proposed in this report would have broader objectives and goals and would represent a broad range of interests.
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From page 96... ...
So-called alternative means of conflict resolution have been used successfully to resolve environmental disputes or impasses to environmental action. Regional councils should sponsor alternative
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From page 97... ...
Engage Local Interests. Regional marine councils would be focal points for bringing together diverse groups interested in resolving conflicts in a particular
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From page 98... ...
The National Marine Council should have the authority to dissolve regional councils if they fail to perform well and to assign remedial tasks to member federal agencies. Advantages of a National and Regional Council Approach The federalist model for marine area governance proposed by the committee has several benefits.
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From page 99... ...
It would also create a mechanism for coordinating federal agency programs to support and enhance state CZM policies and programs, as well as a mechanism for integrating coastal programs, such as the CZM and NEP programs, with marine programs, such as the NMS program. Regional marine councils would be in a position to greatly facilitate coordination among state CZM programs in a given region.
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From page 100... ...
The NMS program also needs to incorporate principles of ecosystem management that mandate comprehensive, effective management of the fish within sanctuary boundaries. Although it is not essential for the NMS to manage fisheries directly, it is essential that sanctuaries assume responsibility for the health of all resources within their boundaries and recognize that overfishing is a potential threat to living marine resources.
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From page 101... ...
In those cases, the National Marine Council should establish regional (local) marine councils, which include representatives of all interested and affected parties who have legitimate interests in the area.
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From page 102... ...
The proposed National Marine Council could perform many of the functions recommended in that report. It could function as an independent oversight body that could advise the Secretary of Commerce, the fishery management councils, and Congress and provide an independent mechanism for reviewing strategic planning for fisheries, reviewing controversial management decisions, resolving interagency conflicts, and coordinating federal policies that affect fisheries investment and infrastructure.
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