Daniel Suman

Perceptions and attitudes regarding marine reserves: a comparison of stakeholder groups in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

Abstract The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) developed a zoning plan as part of its overall management plan, fully implemented as of 1997. The plan created several closed areas or harvest refugia in which consumptive activities are prohibited. This research reports results of surveys that we conducted with members of three stakeholder groups in the Florida Keys: commercial fishers, dive operators, and members of local environmental groups. Surveys requested responses regarding the information sources individuals tapped when learning of the zoning plan and the FKNMS; their degree of public participation; their perceptions and acceptance of the zoning strategy and the process of its design; and the expected outcomes of the zoning strategy. Many responses show significant differences among the three groups. Fishers felt highly alienated from the process of zone designation and displayed a sense of anger and powerlessness with respect to what they considered to be an attempt to exclude their group from the harvest refugia. Dive operators demonstrated the highest levels of participation in the designation process, but were concerned that refugia regulations could limit their activities in the future. Members of environmental groups were the strongest supporters of the harvest refugia concept and the FKNMS. This research suggests numerous ways in which marine resource managers could improve their public outreach and information dissemination strategies when developing future harvest refugia and marine protected areas.

Marine Sediments: A Reservoir for Black Carbon and their Use as Spatial and Temporal Records of Combustion

Black carbon (BC) found in ocean sediments provides regional and global information regarding biomass burning activities and transport mechanisms. BC fluxes to surface sediments, largely from the Pacific Ocean, range between 0.002–3.6 μg BC cm-2 yr-1 for deep sea sediments and 26–354 μg BC cm-2 yr-1 for continental margin sediments. The BC flux may be a function of the magnitude of biomass burning, the distance to the source region, and riverine and eolian transport mechanisms.

Integrated coastal management in the Venice lagoon and its watershed

The Venice Lagoon (VL) is a complex ecosystem in which public participation and area-based management has often been neglected by administrative bodies involved in the planning of coastal projects and public works. In this area, the analysis of the local situation highlighted a substantial absence of coordination among the various administrative bodies in charge of planning and management at various governmental levels and in different regulated economic sectors. This paper analyses public participation and collaboration with reference to the Integrated Coastal Management context (ICM). The paper examines specific requirements, constraints, and opportunities for the complex case of the VL where participatory management and institutional coordination need enhancement.

Case studies of coastal conflicts: comparative US/European experiences

One of the projects of the Consortium for Transatlantic Cooperation in Marine Policy and Coastal Management Education is the preparation of student-written case studies on marine and coastal conflicts using a common framework. This special issue presents six of these case studies researched and written by graduate students from the Consortiums six academic partners (University of Delaware, University of Genova, University of Massachusetts, University of Miami, University of Sevilla, University of Wales - Cardiff). The issue includes one case from each academic partner that reflects local coastal management issues, as well as the academic focus and orientation of the institution. We believe that these case studies, although focusing on the Atlantic coasts of the US and Western Europe, will be of great interest and use to students, practitioners, and analysts of marine and coastal policy anywhere.

Pollution prevention in the coastal zone: An exploratory essay with case studies

In the past decade, national and international pollution policies have increasingly opted for prevention over remediation. As an anticipatory, comprehensive approach that might save money and avoid end‐of‐pipe regulations, pollution prevention (P2) warrants careful consideration. We focus on the coastal zone because of its unique geographical characteristics, its ecological and economic importance, and the increasing pressures on its integrity. Over the past 25 years, U.S. legislation has increasingly embraced P2 principles in the management of coastal environments. Four case studies illustrate P2 ‘s prospects for the variety of pollution problems within the coastal zone: Boston Harbor (wastewater); Chesapeake Bay (nutrients); Broward County, Floridas P2 program for marinas (toxic substances); and the cruise line industry (solid waste). These case studies represent a range of circumstances in the coastal zone: a number of pollutants; point and nonpoint sources; land‐based and ocean‐based sources; mandato...

Panama revisited: evolution of coastal management policy

Abstract A window of opportunity for integrated coastal management may exist in Panama at the beginning of the new century. The country emerged from a period of political instability in the 1990s and began the new century with full political control over its most important resource—the Panama Canal. A major institutional reorganization in the late 1990s merged a number of agencies with authority in the coastal and marine areas into the Panama Maritime Authority and expanded the responsibilities of the marine resource directorate to include marine and coastal resources. This reorganization occurred with the adoption of new legislation that clearly recognizes the importance of integrated coastal management (ICM). Concurrent with the formation of the Maritime Authority, the Legislature passed the General Environmental Law and created the National Environment Authority. Despite these positive developments, institutional change has been slow. Sectoral management of coastal resources continues. Interagency coordination remains deficient, and no formal coastal coordination mechanism exists. Legislation is contradictory and confusing, and the new laws only add to the confusion. As coastal environmental quality continues to degrade and conflicts between sectors increase, the marine and coastal directorate must strengthen its institutional role and take the initiative in the development of a meaningful ICM effort in Panama. This manuscript analyzes the evolution of Panamanian institutions and legal frameworks related to coastal areas and highlights themes that are ripe for future action.