In December 1998, the Howard Government released Australia’s Oceans Policy, a major initiative focused at providing a framework for implementing integrated ecosystem based management of Australia’s vast marine domain This thesis utilises a policy community approach to review the processes and institutions that led to the development of Australia’s Oceans Policy It argues that despite significant policy change affected by both external and domestic policy drivers, a key element in shaping responses to the policy has been stability within the policy community shaped paradoxically by ‘offshore federalism’ that has made it difficult to implement a fully integrated oceans policy 

Analysis of the development and implementation of the Australia’s Oceans Policy indicates that change to ocean related policies embodied in the policy framework have been driven by several interrelated factors These include debates over appropriate management of resources within and between sectoral groups; coordination of marine resource management between state and Commonwealth governments; and Commonwealth commitments to international instruments New institutional arrangements established by Australia’s Oceans Policy such as the National Oceans Office, National Oceans Ministerial Board, National Oceans Advisory Group and Regional Marine Plan Steering Committees, reflect a commitment towards integrated ocean management but at the same time confront the legal and jurisdictional framework established following a quarter century of ‘offshore federalism’

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The development of Australia's Oceans Policy: change and stability in a policy community

The release of the Commonwealth's Australia's Oceans Policy (AOP) in 1998, introduced
the concept of integrated ecosystem-based oceans management to be implemented through
Regional Marine Plans. The South-east Regional Marine Plan (SERMP) was the first plan
developed under AOP. Fisheries, being the third largest industry in the south-east region,
play a significant role in the implementation of the SERMP. This thesis identifies
implementation issues for Australian fisheries in the broader context of regional marine
planning. Specifically, fisheries and oceans management arrangements are analysed for their
capacities to meet the objectives of AOP, in terms of integration and conflict management
that crosses jurisdictions and sectors, and also within the fisheries sector.
This thesis argues that effective implementation of the SERMP will require an advanced
capacity for integration between sectors and jurisdictions. It also argues that the
implementation of the SERMP will require more innovative and focused approaches to
conflict management, so that traditionally opposing interest groups can work towards
cohesive integrated oceans management. This thesis examines the development and
implementation of the SERMP, supported by comparative analysis of international initiatives
and other approaches to natural resource management. This analysis demonstrates that
fisheries require a carefully planned combination of instrumental and institutional
arrangements to address issues raised in the SERMP. Likewise, oceans management
currently addresses integration issues at the higher echelons of government but lacks the
operational support to effectively implement the SERMP. This thesis proposes the use of
key tools that incorporate instrumental and institutional bases for integrated management that
embody ecosystem-based management principles and effective conflict management
techniques. 
Australia has traditionally adopted a "negative" integration approach to natural resource
management, whereby activities should not be inconsistent with overall objectives for
management. This thesis concludes that Australia needs to progress towards a more
"positive" approach to integration in oceans management by breaking through traditional
sectoral and jurisdictional mindsets in order to practically meet ecosystem-based objectives.
This requires a more concentrated effort to build the integrative capacity from within sectors,
such as fisheries, to meet the overall objectives of AOP.

Regional marine plans : fisheries management challenges under Australia's Oceans Policy

The last decade has seen increasing attention to institutional arrangements and policy outcomes affecting the governance of the world's seas and oceans. Governance is linked to institutional capacity and to effectiveness of public organisations drawing attention to tools and approaches underpinning effective and efficient institutional arrangements. Australia has over 100 laws and policy instruments addressing aspects of the management of the marine environment. Many of these instruments incorporate post UNCED principles as well as reflecting a broader government reform agenda that saw government moving to more market and or collaborative oriented forms of governance. Australia has taken a high profile lead in oceans governance in these areas, developing marine protected area management in the 1970s, supporting stronger initiatives against marine pollution in the 1980s, and taking significant action against illegal, unreported or unregulated (IUU) fishing in the 1990s. Australia's international actions have been matched by the development of a number of oceans governance initiatives including a national Oceans Policy implemented by the Commonwealth and applied to Commonwealth jurisdiction. This paper outlines Australia's approach to ocean governance, highlighting the challenges of 'offshore federalism', and assesses the effectiveness of current governance arrangements integral to the Oceans Policy. This asssessment draws on the insights of Arild Underdal, where effectiveness is related to components such as the 'stringency and inclusiveness' of management provisions, 'level of compliance' and the impact of 'side effects' produced by the instrument.

Young

Papers

Oceans Planning and Management Issues Paper 2, Management Instruments for Marine Resource Allocation and Use