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S. Fletcher
The declaration of EEZs and their associated powers over large ocean areas provides
an opportunity to develop sustainable policies and management practices for marine
resources. The need for management has two main underpinnings:
to maintain the ecological balance of the marine areas
to allow the sustainable exploitation of marine resources and in so doing,
promoting the economic well-being of the nation involved
EEZ management seeks to manage EEZ resources and associated land areas, in an
integrated, strategic and sustainable manner. Two fundamental requirements for
effective EEZ management are co-operation between states with bordering EEZs and
good information upon which to make management decisions.
Co-operation Amongst Coastal Nations
The interconnected nature of the oceans and coastal land means that specific areas are
somewhat difficult to manage in isolation. The designation of EEZs will require that
maritime nations co-operate, especially where states designating EEZs are
geographically close and maritime boundaries coincide. The geographic spread of
marine resources tends not to reflect maritime boundaries, therefore in order to exploit
such resources sustainably, regional policy integration is required. This has led
Gubbay (1993) to comment that "the management of EEZs and the high seas
undoubtedly needs international collaboration".
The 18 states bordering the Gineau Gulf of West Africa demonstrate the need
for strategic management. Gineau states have a combined coastline of 6500km and
EEZs totalling 2340 million km2 (Levy, 1987). Severe economic hardship resulting
from petroleum shortages, localised political conflict and their position in the global
economy, mean these nations are increasingly seeking to exploit their marine
resources. The complex nature of the marine boundaries resulting from the proximity
of Guinea states has led Bidi (1993) to consider how the collective EEZ resource base
will be exploited, asking "must their nationalism lead them to lock it up within the
straight and unproductive boundaries of the marine frontiers,...or will they have to...
co-operate in order to harmonise their efforts for a united exploitation?". The
economic benefits sought by these nations may not be obtainable if exploited on an
EEZ specific basis, therefore sustainable development will depend upon a co-ordinated
and strategic approach.
Whilst there is considerable potential for conflicting international resource
policies a complicating factor occurs where sub-national units have differing views on
ocean resource use, in such cases, this “can result in the multiple and possibly
conflicting claims by one nation in the international arena” (Hershman, 1996). The
need for co-operation in the harmonious use of resources is therefore also an intranational consideration.
S. Fletcher
The declaration of EEZs and their associated powers over large ocean areas provides
an opportunity to develop sustainable policies and management practices for marine
resources. The need for management has two main underpinnings:
to maintain the ecological balance of the marine areas
to allow the sustainable exploitation of marine resources and in so doing,
promoting the economic well-being of the nation involved
EEZ management seeks to manage EEZ resources and associated land areas, in an
integrated, strategic and sustainable manner. Two fundamental requirements for
effective EEZ management are co-operation between states with bordering EEZs and
good information upon which to make management decisions.
Co-operation Amongst Coastal Nations
The interconnected nature of the oceans and coastal land means that specific areas are
somewhat difficult to manage in isolation. The designation of EEZs will require that
maritime nations co-operate, especially where states designating EEZs are
geographically close and maritime boundaries coincide. The geographic spread of
marine resources tends not to reflect maritime boundaries, therefore in order to exploit
such resources sustainably, regional policy integration is required. This has led
Gubbay (1993) to comment that "the management of EEZs and the high seas
undoubtedly needs international collaboration".
The 18 states bordering the Gineau Gulf of West Africa demonstrate the need
for strategic management. Gineau states have a combined coastline of 6500km and
EEZs totalling 2340 million km2 (Levy, 1987). Severe economic hardship resulting
from petroleum shortages, localised political conflict and their position in the global
economy, mean these nations are increasingly seeking to exploit their marine
resources. The complex nature of the marine boundaries resulting from the proximity
of Guinea states has led Bidi (1993) to consider how the collective EEZ resource base
will be exploited, asking "must their nationalism lead them to lock it up within the
straight and unproductive boundaries of the marine frontiers,...or will they have to...
co-operate in order to harmonise their efforts for a united exploitation?". The
economic benefits sought by these nations may not be obtainable if exploited on an
EEZ specific basis, therefore sustainable development will depend upon a co-ordinated
and strategic approach.
Whilst there is considerable potential for conflicting international resource
policies a complicating factor occurs where sub-national units have differing views on
ocean resource use, in such cases, this “can result in the multiple and possibly
conflicting claims by one nation in the international arena” (Hershman, 1996). The
need for co-operation in the harmonious use of resources is therefore also an intranational consideration.