Transforming Management of Tropical Coastal Seas to Cope with Challenges of the 21st Century

Authors

Peter F. Sale, Institute for Water, Environment and Health, United Nations University
Tundi Agardy, Sound Seas
Cameron H. Ainsworth, University of South FloridaFollow
Blake E. Feist, Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Johann D. Bell, Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems Division, Secretariat of the Pacific Community
Patrick Christie, University of Washington
Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, Global Change Institute, University of Queensland
Peter J. Mumby, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland
David A. Feary, School of the Environment, University of Technology
Megan I. Saunders, Global Change Institute, University of Queensland
Tim M. Daw, Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University
Simon J. Foale, School of Arts and Social Sciences, James Cook University
Phillip S. Levin, Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Kenyon C. Lindeman, Dept. of Education & Interdisciplinary Studies, Florida Institute of Technology
Kai Lorenzen, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida
Robert S. Pomeroy, Agricultural and Resource Economics/CT Sea Grant, University of Connecticut-Avery Point
Edward H. Allison, School of International Development, University of East Anglia
R. H. Bradbury, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
Jennifer Corrin, Centre for Public, International and Comparative Law, and TC Beirne School of Law, University of Queensland
Alasdair J. Edwards, Newcastle University
David O. Obura, CORDIO East Africa
Yvonne J. Sadovy de Mitcheson, Swire Institute of Marine Science, University of Hong Kong
Melita A. Samoilys, CORDIO East Africa
Charles R.C. Sheppard, University of Warwick

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-2014

Keywords

Tropical coastal fishery, Coastal resource management, Coral reef, Marine spatial planning, Global change, Socio-ecological management

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.06.005

Abstract

Over 1.3 billion people live on tropical coasts, primarily in developing countries. Many depend on adjacent coastal seas for food, and livelihoods. We show how trends in demography and in several local and global anthropogenic stressors are progressively degrading capacity of coastal waters to sustain these people. Far more effective approaches to environmental management are needed if the loss in provision of ecosystem goods and services is to be stemmed. We propose expanded use of marine spatial planning as a framework for more effective, pragmatic management based on ocean zones to accommodate conflicting uses. This would force the holistic, regional-scale reconciliation of food security, livelihoods, and conservation that is needed. Transforming how countries manage coastal resources will require major change in policy and politics, implemented with sufficient flexibility to accommodate societal variations. Achieving this change is a major challenge – one that affects the lives of one fifth of humanity.

Rights Information

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.

Was this content written or created while at USF?

Yes

Citation / Publisher Attribution

Marine Pollution Bulletin, v. 85, issue. 1, p. 8-23

Scholar Commons Citation

Sale, Peter F.; Agardy, Tundi; Ainsworth, Cameron H.; Feist, Blake E.; Bell, Johann D.; Christie, Patrick; Hoegh-Guldberg, Ove; Mumby, Peter J.; Feary, David A.; Saunders, Megan I.; Daw, Tim M.; Foale, Simon J.; Levin, Phillip S.; Lindeman, Kenyon C.; Lorenzen, Kai; Pomeroy, Robert S.; Allison, Edward H.; Bradbury, R. H.; Corrin, Jennifer; Edwards, Alasdair J.; Obura, David O.; Sadovy de Mitcheson, Yvonne J.; Samoilys, Melita A.; and Sheppard, Charles R.C., "Transforming Management of Tropical Coastal Seas to Cope with Challenges of the 21st Century" (2014). Marine Science Faculty Publications. 1824.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/msc_facpub/1824