Regional marine plans : fisheries management challenges under Australia's Oceans Policy

摘要

The release of the Commonwealth's Australia's Oceans Policy (AOP) in 1998, introducedudthe concept of integrated ecosystem-based oceans management to be implemented throughudRegional Marine Plans. The South-east Regional Marine Plan (SERMP) was the first planuddeveloped under AOP. Fisheries, being the third largest industry in the south-east region,udplay a significant role in the implementation of the SERMP. This thesis identifiesudimplementation issues for Australian fisheries in the broader context of regional marineudplanning. Specifically, fisheries and oceans management arrangements are analysed for theirudcapacities to meet the objectives of AOP, in terms of integration and conflict managementudthat crosses jurisdictions and sectors, and also within the fisheries sector.udThis thesis argues that effective implementation of the SERMP will require an advancedudcapacity for integration between sectors and jurisdictions. It also argues that theudimplementation of the SERMP will require more innovative and focused approaches toudconflict management, so that traditionally opposing interest groups can work towardsudcohesive integrated oceans management. This thesis examines the development andudimplementation of the SERMP, supported by comparative analysis of international initiativesudand other approaches to natural resource management. This analysis demonstrates thatudfisheries require a carefully planned combination of instrumental and institutionaludarrangements to address issues raised in the SERMP. Likewise, oceans managementudcurrently addresses integration issues at the higher echelons of government but lacks theudoperational support to effectively implement the SERMP. This thesis proposes the use ofudkey tools that incorporate instrumental and institutional bases for integrated management thatudembody ecosystem-based management principles and effective conflict managementudtechniques. udAustralia has traditionally adopted a "negative" integration approach to natural resourceudmanagement, whereby activities should not be inconsistent with overall objectives forudmanagement. This thesis concludes that Australia needs to progress towards a moreud"positive" approach to integration in oceans management by breaking through traditionaludsectoral and jurisdictional mindsets in order to practically meet ecosystem-based objectives.udThis requires a more concentrated effort to build the integrative capacity from within sectors,udsuch as fisheries, to meet the overall objectives of AOP.