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A National management framework

Countries adopt policies to meet their own particular needs. But, when it comes to conserving coasts and seas, these should be set in a framework of general development plans which contains, among others, the following elements:

• Legislation which provides a legal basis for the protection and management of seas and coasts and defines the conditions under which natural resources are to be used and conserved;
• Provision for international co-operation to identify issues of common interest, primarily at regional and sub-regional levels, and mitigate damage to shared areas;
• Principles that are central to managing the resources of the seas and coasts responsibly, including the pre-cautionary approach, the principle of preventative action, the polluter pays principle, and principles of equity;
• A policy process to set and update goals and objectives for managing the marine environment recognising that this is a learning experience based on continuously emerging knowledge;
• A policy process that ensures adequate and meaningful information and analysis to inform decision-making, incorporates environmental costs and the value of environmental services, and sets priorities;
• Institutional arrangements that provide for devolving management to the lowest level practicable, for approaching it in an integrated way, and for consulting with resource users and other key stakeholders on decisions that affect them - and allowing them to participate in decision making;
• Procedures in the policy process that will provide timely notice of environmental change due to human activities;
• A policy process that fosters effective communication among experts, policy-makers and the public;
• A readiness to evaluate the range of available policy instruments, and apply the most appropriate ones;
• Financial mechanisms that make it possible to attain the goals and address the priorities; and
• Education programmes to ensure informed public participation.