Institutional framework for Australian ocean and coastal management

This paper examines the key elements of the institutional framework through which Australia manages its ocean and coastal areas and resources. The paper notes moves to greater integration between governments, facilitated by extensive intergovernmental interaction and argues that this needs to be matched by a similar commitment to integration within each of the nine Australian governments. The paper provides a survey of existing institutional arrangements and examines the development of policy in three key areas, marine environmental protection, marine science and technology, and coastal zone management. The paper supports strengthening existing intergovernmental arrangements to ensure the current efforts in integrated ocean and coastal management are sustained in the longer term.