Policy Transfer in Oceans Governance: Learning Lessons from Australia's Oceans Policy Process

This article examines policy transfer as an important mechanism for policy change in oceans governance. Since it entered into force in 1994, the Law of the Sea Convention (LOSC) has obligated signatories to demonstrate that they can effectively manage the resources within their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs). This article focuses primarily on the Australian response to fulfill its obligation to the LOSC through the development of Australia's Oceans Policy (AOP), and the transfer of key policy components to Canadian and New Zealand ocean initiatives. This article argues that government officials (or civil servants/bureaucrats) were essential agents of change who formed networks that contributed to successful policy transfer in oceans management.