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Large Marine Ecosystem governance – another approach. In: Sense and sensibility - Addressing the South China Sea disputes

  • Werner Ekau

Abstract

The management of the global commons has always been a difficult task. Free access to common resources normally leads to the indiscriminate exploitation of such resources for the short-term benefit of a few privileged people or groups. The world is already wellacquainted with this problem with regard to terrestrial land use but the issue is also of rising importance for our oceans. Three main uses of the ocean have been identified: the ocean as a resource provider, as a transport medium and as a battlefield.1 All three uses reach back thousands of years. To these might be added a fourth one that unfortunately is becoming more and more visible: the ocean as a dumping ground for all kinds of waste. Research is also being conducted into another potential use of the ocean as an alternative human habitat, and such ‘ocean urbanisation’ projects may gain importance in the future. Space, water and resources (both living and non-living) are still seen and treated as commons even if under the sovereignty of coastal states. The Large Marine Ecosystem (LME) approach to ocean governance has evolved from the management of one of these commons, the fish resources in the sea.

Cite this activity

Ekau W. (2016) Large Marine Ecosystem governance – another approach. In: Pejsova E. (ed.). Sense and sensibility - Addressing the South China Sea disputes (pp. 45-52). 10.2815/460240 QN-AF-16-004-EN-C

Details

Date 01.06.2016
Pages 45-52
Book Title Sense and sensibility - Addressing the South China Sea disputes
Editors Pejsova E.
ISBN 978-92-9198-489-3
Open Access Open Access (open)
Open Access Status Open Access (open)
Eprints_link https://cris.leibniz-zmt.de/id/eprint/2365

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