The application of integrated resource management to coastal and marine environments with case studies from Australia and Tasmania

The issue of coastal and marine degradation is beset by lack of consensus over the seriousness of the problem and serious practical difficulties associated with designing and implementing effective policy frameworks and strategies for dealing with the problem. The study reviews the literature on the state of these resources. This is used to show that degradation is a serious problem and that the processes behind degradation are both complex and multiple and therefore require co-ordination between many actors and between jurisdictions. The study also sets out to appraise the degree to which the development and implementation of policies tend to conform to a top-down model of policy making and implementation and are characterised by many of the types of strengths and weaknesses associated with that approach. The thesis analyses the importance of coastal and marine resources and the evidence that these are being managed in an unsustainable manner. It critically assesses the policies and programmes designed to manage coastal and marine environments at the international, national, state and local levels. The study focuses in particular on integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) and sets out to analyse the way in which this tool has been adopted and implemented at these various levels by using Australia as a case study of a national approach and Tasmania as a case study of state and local approach to coastal and marine management strategies. The study concludes by commenting on the types of changes that are required in order for management of coastal and marine resources and environments to be more effective.