Within governance, it incorporates the influence of non-state actors, i.e. stakeholders, NGOs and so forth, therefore the state is not the only acting power in policy making.
[4] However, the main organisation concerned with the economic, environmental, ethical, peace and security issues is the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
[8] However, the developed world, in particular the United States, was not in favor of this and preferring a first-come, first-served approach, with some suggesting this position was based on self-economic interest.
Examples include projects in Canada where indigenous knowledge has improved the efficiency of ocean governance and conservation by the application of Haida nation principles to marine land use planning,[21] and in Indonesia where collaboration between local government and indigenous communities has led to community management of marine resources and rehabilitation of the local mangrove environment.
In 2002, Canada introduced the Oceans Strategy, which was heavily based on participatory governance principles: The aim of the ESSIM Initiative is to create integrated and adaptive management plans that are a collaborative effort for ecosystem, social, economic and institutional sustainability of the Eastern Scotian Shelf.
[27] It incorporates maintaining existing jurisdictional responsibilities, inclusion, consensus, accountability, dispute resolution, networking, evolution, and learning by doing, which are all part of the governance principles in the Oceans Strategy.
[29] It has been seen as fairly successful in improving communication and cooperation within government agencies, but there is room for greater inclusion of coastal community participation to fully fulfill the participatory theory.
This Declaration highlights that states need to recognize the importance that Indigenous and local communities play in sustainable environmental policy making.
The Regional Seas Programme of UNEP creates programs to be managed and coordinated by countries that share a common body of water.
[36] The FAO has stated that over half (53%) of fish stocks are at full exploitation, with current catches close to the maximum sustainable production levels.
Poor fishery management may be overcome by transitioning to rights-based fishing and self-governance, which incorporates participatory governance approaches.
There is a focus on rights-based approaches in current development programs, which have an emphasis on creating (or recreating) and supporting local institutions for the fishery.
Historically, the use of chemicals, such as coolants in refrigerators under The Montreal Protocol, has been successfully reversed by employing rapid environmental policy.
While the policy is limited, there are a few examples including the Microbead-Free Waters Act[43] and the Ocean Protection Council: Statewide Microplastics Strategy.
[45][46][47][48][49][50][51] In order to accurately predict and manage risk, we need further studies on plastic pollution and harmful chemicals impact on marine life.
Priority should be given to large scale, rapid screening of common organic pollutants and realistically weathered micro and nanoplastics to replicate oceanic conditions as closely as is possible in an ecotoxicological assay.
[citation needed] Detailed studies aimed at the size and concentration of plastics and other emerging contaminants in the ocean are thus highly valuable to inform risk to coastal communities and the environment once they deposit.
Corporations can, via MLG and PP’S, play “decisive and proactive (i.e entrepreneurial)” [53] roles in solving wicked policy issues such as climate change.
In a neoliberal globalised world corporations have the ability to transcend national borders and international institutions to offer effective solutions to global problems.
[55] Corporations are agile entities with exponential reach and growth, who – it can be argued - have a great responsibility toward issues that society faces, most crucially climate change.
Bridging this gap and creating fully integrated governance is essential in order to ensure effective, well-rounded and by in large successful solutions to the issue of ocean.
[59] This is a clear demonstration of the understanding - from both the public and private sector - of the importance of Public-Private Partnerships in effective and successful ocean governance.
Although results are yet to be determined the ‘France-Mer 2030’ plan is a prime example of the potential of collaboration between the public and private sector in creating effective, efficient, sustainable ocean governance.