Issues in the Governance of Marine Spaces

Good governance is based on recognition of the interests of all stakeholders and inclusion of their interests where possible. Interests can be expressed in a variety of ways, for example: sovereignty, jurisdiction, administration, ownership (title), lease, license, permit, quota, customary rights, aboriginal rights, collective rights, community rights, littoral rights, public rights, rights of use, and public good. Coastal states are challenged with managing the multidimensional tapestry of these interests (and perhaps others) in the coast and offshore. Over the next few decades those responsible for marine policy and administration have been challenged with trying to understand this tapestry and communicating it to the various decision makers and stakeholders. However, addressing the complexities associated with these interests solely from a boundary delimitation perspective does not necessarily improve the governance of marine spaces. This paper explores a number of legal, technical, and stakeholder issues related to governing marine spaces.