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A practical framework for implementing and evaluating integrated management of marine activities
Citation
Stephenson, RL and Hobday, AJ and Cvitanovic, C and Alexander, KA and Begg, GA and Bustamante, RH and Dunstan, PK and Frusher, S and Fudge, ME and Fulton, EA and Haward, M and Macleod, C and McDonald, J and Nash, KL and Ogier, E and Pecl, G and Plaganyi, EE and van Putten, I and Smith, T and Ward, TM, A practical framework for implementing and evaluating integrated management of marine activities, Ocean and Coastal Management, 177 pp. 127-138. ISSN 0964-5691 (2019) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
© 2019 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
DOI: doi:10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2019.04.008
Abstract
Despite frequent calls for Integrated Management (IM) of coastal and marine activities, there is no consensus on
the ‘recipe’ for successful adoption and implementation, and there has been insufficient evaluation of successes
and failures of IM to date. The primary rationale for IM is to overcome four major deficiencies of sector-based
management: a) management of diverse activities by different agencies using different approaches, b) management
generally focused on a subset of primarily ecological objectives that do not properly articulate or
evaluate social, cultural, economic and institutional objectives, c) no mechanisms to evaluate or advise on tradeoffs
among objectives of activities in relation to objectives and d) no mechanisms to evaluate the cumulative
effects of all managed activities. To help overcome this gap in knowledge, here we draw on our collective
experiences working in Australia and Canada to develop and articulate a framework to help guide the practical
implementation and evaluation of IM, which we define as: ‘An approach that links (integrates) planning, decision making
and management arrangements across sectors in a unified framework, to enable a more comprehensive view of
sustainability and the consideration of cumulative effects and trade-offs.’
We argue that IM will be most easily and effectively achieved by linking and modifying existing sector-based plans in an overarching IM initiative that has nine key features: 1) Recognition of need for IM, 2) A shared vision by stakeholders and decision-makers for IM, 3) Appropriate legal and institutional frameworks for coordinated decision making, 4) Sufficient and effective processes for stakeholder engagement and participation, 5) A common and comprehensive set of operational objectives, 6) Explicit consideration of trade-offs and cumulative impacts, 7) Flexibility to adapt to changing conditions, 8) Processes for ongoing review and refinement, and 9) Effective resourcing, capacity, leadership and tools. Drawing on these features we then articulate a process for the implementation and evaluation of IM that recognises five phases: i) Preconditions and drivers of change, ii) Intentional design and institutional rearrangement, iii) Enablers and disablers iv) An implemented IM process, and v) Review of IM performance and modification. Combination of the nine features of IM with the five phases in IM development provides a framework for implementation and a lens for evaluation of IM processes. We suggest that this framework provides a guide to the appropriate design of practical IM, which will assist in overcoming the current management deficiencies and improve the sustainability of marine resources in the face of change.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | marine governance, marine spatial planning, ecosystem-based management, trade-offs, cumulative impacts, Canada, Australia |
Research Division: | Human Society |
Research Group: | Policy and administration |
Research Field: | Environment policy |
Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
Objective Group: | Terrestrial systems and management |
Objective Field: | Assessment and management of terrestrial ecosystems |
UTAS Author: | Hobday, AJ (Dr Alistair Hobday) |
UTAS Author: | Cvitanovic, C (Dr Christopher Cvitanovic) |
UTAS Author: | Alexander, KA (Dr Karen Alexander) |
UTAS Author: | Frusher, S (Professor Stewart Frusher) |
UTAS Author: | Fudge, ME (Dr Maree Fudge) |
UTAS Author: | Fulton, EA (Dr Elizabeth Fulton) |
UTAS Author: | Haward, M (Professor Marcus Haward) |
UTAS Author: | Macleod, C (Professor Catriona MacLeod) |
UTAS Author: | McDonald, J (Professor Jan McDonald) |
UTAS Author: | Nash, KL (Dr Kirsty Nash) |
UTAS Author: | Ogier, E (Dr Emily Ogier) |
UTAS Author: | Pecl, G (Professor Gretta Pecl) |
UTAS Author: | Plaganyi, EE (Dr Eva Plaganyi-Lloyd) |
UTAS Author: | van Putten, I (Dr Ingrid Van Putten) |
UTAS Author: | Smith, T (Dr Tony Smith) |
UTAS Author: | Ward, TM (Associate Professor Timothy Ward) |
ID Code: | 132713 |
Year Published: | 2019 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 44 |
Deposited By: | Oceans and Cryosphere |
Deposited On: | 2019-05-17 |
Last Modified: | 2021-09-30 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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