Law and Policy Dimensions of Ocean Governance

Abstract

Human populations have relied on the oceans for centuries for food supply, transportation, security, oil and gas resources, and many other reasons. The growing prospects of the oceans, such as access to marine genetic resources and seabed minerals, to generate renewable energy and as a potentially enhanced carbon sink, are contributing to increased interests to control and exploit the seas. At the same time, human pressure on the oceans, both from land-and atmospheric-based sources and at sea, as well as from climate change, has led to unprecedented levels of stress on the oceans. The concept of ocean governance has developed as a response to this. This chapter explores ocean governance from the interdisciplinary perspectives of law and human geography.We trace the development of ocean governance from first practices and legal concepts up to the emergence of contemporary ocean governance in recent decades and explore how it departs from traditional practices. Zonal and sectoral approaches, as well as their underlying norms, are discussed. We then take a more critical stance to shed light on the role neoliberalism plays in the forming of ocean governance and the effects this paradigm can have on governance outcomes. The cases of fisheries management and ocean grabbing illustrate some possible mechanisms and effects. In addition, the role of commu-nities and indigenous people in ocean governance is discussed. Finally, the chapter addresses the shared or common concern surrounding the degradation of the marine environment, and the need for global and interdisciplinary cooperation in governing the oceans for mutual benefit.

How to manage genetic resources in the Arctic Ocean?

“…2) 1 . Развитие нормативно-правовой базы их сохранения имеет свою историю: даже некоторым древним цивилизациям известен порядок, нацеленный на сохранение животного и растительного мира в акваториях [12]. Современное значение правил, касающихся сохранения морской флоры и фауны, возрастает в связи с ее многофункциональным использованием: от поддержки способности биосферы к саморегуляции до рекреационного вклада [13].…”

International scientific conference "New Challenges in Economic and Business Development – 2021: Post-Crisis Economy" : Proceedings

“…Later, the basis for marine governance and integrated marine management, including a duty of states to protect and conserve the environment at sea established by UNCLOS (Arts. 192,194(5), 116-120), was complemented and reinforced by numerous conventions and soft law instruments (Singh & Ort, 2020;Rothwell & Stephens, 2016). In the Baltic Sea, these mechanisms were also supplemented by "many types of internationally agreed regional spatially explicit controls in the Baltic Sea [..].…”

“…It is common knowledge that the oceans are central to human life, and human reliance on the ocean's productive assets, providing natural, social and economic functions, continues to grow and contributes to increased well-being (Singh & Ort, 2020;Hoegh-Guldberg et al, 2015;Sutherland, 2005a;Ng'ang'a et al, 2004). At the same time, the inherent volumetric, dynamic, and temporal marine environment poses major challenges to the management of emerging multidimensional maritime private and public Rights, Restrictions and Responsibilities (3Rs) in horizontal and vertical perspectives (Papageorgiou & Kyvelou, 2018;Michalak, 2018;Balla & Wouters, 2017a;Athanasiou et al, 2017a;Athanasiou et al, 2016;Papageorgiou, 2016;de Latte, 2015;Tamtomo, 2004;Ng'ang'a et al, 2004).…”

Ocean Governance: A tertiary educational perspective in the Mauritian context

“…Ocean governance can guide countries in this endeavor. Although there is no universally accepted definition of the term ocean governance, many commentators have put forward that ocean governance relates to a set of norms, rules and practices that regulate maritime activities with a view to protect the marine ecosystem and reap economic benefits from the use and exploitation of marine resources (Singh and Ort, 2020). According to Bailet (2002), ocean governance involves three elements: a legal foundation, an institutional framework and mechanism of implementation.…”