Regional Ocean Governance
Syllabus
Instructor: Benrong Peng, PhD
Department: Environmental Science Research Center
Office Location: 303 Yingxue Building, Campus of XMU
Email: brpeng@xmu.edu.cn
Office Phone: 2183833
Office Hours: 2:00-4:00 PM, ThD, WED
Course Objectives
The relationship of society with coasts and oceans sits at a balance point. Half of the planet’s population
and most of the world’s major cities are found in coastal areas. False steps in waste discharges, fisheries,
sprawl, filling of wetlands and a variety of other topics extract ever-greater tolls on coastal land and sea
environments. Recently the Pew Ocean Commission, the US commission in Ocean Policy, and many
other research institute and countries identified sensational problems with current management
approaches in the United States, and other countries. However, the design and implementation of new
governance systems to allow people to more sustainable and equitably inhabit coastal regions lags.
Bridging that gap through improvements in current practice or adoption of a new paradigm
constitutes the central theme for this course.
To purse it we will identify major topics related to management of the land/sea interface and ask the
following questions. What governance approaches address the topics? How do the policy science inform
the debate? What have we learned about policy development and implementation? Does our
understanding of estuarine and marine ecosystems provide the basis for designing and implementing more
effective programs?
After defining the issues in the introductory classes we examine the topic from three perspectives
that mirror or evolution of thinking in the field. First, we consider the management of individual sectors
or uses, an approach that extends back over a century. Governance of sewage, dredging and wetland
illustrate these sectoral approaches. Second, over the past three decades initiatives to integrate
management of uses in a coastal region have been advanced. Coastal zone management and national
estuary programs exemplify this approach and merit careful review. Most current practice in coastal
governance falls within either the sector-based or the integrated management paradigm.
However, the momentum for a third and more explicitly ecosystem-based approach grows,
particularly with release of reports from two Commissions. Natural systems span political boundaries and
impose constraints on human activity particularly as coastal populations rise and develop vast
technological capabilities. But implementation of ecosystem-based management in a coastal contest
remains a new area of investigation. In short, the old paradigms have inadequacies, and the new
ecosystem-based paradigm lacks sufficient definition and waits implementation. The last section of this
course addresses this situation by considering the nature of the paradigm shift, operational issues that arise
when it is applied to a fishery or a coastal region, and fundamental issues of institutional change related to
implementation of ecosystem-based management.
Readings, expectations, grading and other logistics
Your active participation in discussion of the readings and the ideas that surround them contribute
substantially to the course. We will approach this in three ways. First, I will provide a list of questions
related to the reading. It will be distributed a week before the class. Second, I will provide a short
introduction focused on the readings with an asterisk (*) in the syllabus. Third, you will present/discuss
the remaining readings for the day. By the end of this class please let me know your top four (prioritized if
you wish) topics. Each student will be selected to make at least THREE presentations as part of a team.
To augment your presentation you may use debate, scenarios or other approaches as well as visual and
written materials. We will refine this approach in class.
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All readings are available in the Website. Additional readings may be assigned in class.
Writing a paper in this course will allow you to evaluate a facet of regional ocean governance. Plan
to select a topic that is related to the central themes of this course during the early weeks of the semester,
and let me know your preferences. Small group projects are a possibility. You may propose to write up a
case related to material associated with this course. Provide a prospectus (3-5 pages) for your paper at the
start of class during the week of 6. The prospectus should include the question or question you seek to
answer, a preliminary bibliography, and a description of how you will go about answering your questions.
The final paper of 20 pages or more (large if a group project) should include an abstract, subheads, and
references similar to leading journals in the field. A printed version is due no later than the last class on.
A grade in this course will be assigned on the basis of class presentations and participation 40%,
paper 40%, paper presentation 20%. Missing class can cause problem.
Schedule
Sept. 20-- Introduction: Coastal Governance Issues
1.1 Pew Ocean Commission 2003. America’s Living Oceans: Charting a Course for sea change. Chapter 4.
Preserving our coasts. Page 49-58*. www.pewtrusts.com/pdf/env_pew_oceans_final_report.pdf
1.2 US commission on Ocean Policy (USCOP). 2004. An ocean Blueprint for the 21st century. Chapter 9.
Managing coasts and their watersheds. Pages 150-161. Chapter 11. Conversing and restoring coastal
habitat. Pages 170-179*. www. Oceancommission.gov
1.3 Lotze, H. et al. 2006. Depletion, degradation, and recovery potential of estuaries and coastal seas.
Science 312: 1806-1809*. www. Sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/312/5781/1806
1.4 Fiorino, D. 2001. Environmental policy as learning: A new view of an old landscape. Public
administration review 61: 322-334.*
Sept. 27-- Introduction: The policy process: an introduction and energy application
2.1 Clark, T. 2002. Chapter 1. Introduction: professional challenges, pp1-16 and fundamentals, pp17-31.
In The Policy Process: A practical guide for Natural resources Professionals. New Haven: Yale University
Press*
2.2 Granek, E. et al. 2005. A blueprint for the oceans: implications of two national commission reports for
conservation practitioners. Conservation biology 19: 1008-1018
2.3 US commission on Ocean Policy (USCOP). 2004. An ocean Blueprint for the 21st century. Chapter 24.
renewable energy resources. Pages 365-368. and offshore liquefied natural gas ports, p358. www.
Oceancommission.gov
2.4 Burrough, R. 2006. Coastal policy and the end of oil. The Coastal Society Bulletin 28(1): 1, 4-6.
www.thecoastalsociety.org/pdf/bulletin/issue_2006n1.pdf
Oct. 11—Sectors: Sewage Treatment Decisions and social Process
3.2 Clark, T. 2002. Social Process, pp32-55. In The Policy Process: A practical guide for Natural resources
Professionals. New Haven: Yale University Press*
3.3 Bourroughs, R. 1999. When stakeholders choose: process, knowledge, and motivation in water quality
decision. Society and natural resources. 12:797-809
3.4 Boesch, D.F., et al. 2001. The challenge of nutrient pollution, 20-26 and conclusion 41-42. In Marine
Pollution in the United State: Significant Accomplishment, Future Challenges. Arlington, VA: Pew Ocean
Commission. www.pewtrusts.com/pdf/env_pew_oceans_pollution.pdf
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3.5 Houck, O. 2003. Tales from a troubled marriage: Science and law in environmental policy. Science
302: 1926-1929
Oct. 18-- Sectors: Wetlands
4.2 Clark, T. 2002. Problem orientation: Focusing on the problems to find solution. In The Policy Process,
56-84. New Haven: Yale University Press*
5.2 Zinn, J. and C. Copeland. 2006. Wetlands: An overview of Issues. CRS report for Congress RL 33483.
Congressional Reference Service, 19pp
5.3 La Peyre, M., M. Reams, and Mendelssohn. 2001. Linking actions to outcomes in wetland
management: An overview of US state wetland management. Wetlands 21:66-74.
http://ncseonline.org/NLE/CRSreports/06jun/RL33483
Oct. 25 and Nov.1-- Integrated Approaches: Coastal zone management in USA
7.3 Birkland, T. 2001. Chapter 8. Policy implementation and policy failure. In An Introduction to the
Policy Process. Pp 177-193. New York, M.E. Sharpe*
6.1 Beatley, T., Brower, D.J. and A.K. Schwab. 2002. The coastal management framework. In An
Introduction to coastal Zone management, 2rd Edition. Pp91-100
6.2 Beatley, T., Brower, D.J. and A.K. Schwab. 2002. federal coastal policy In An Introduction to coastal
Zone management, 2rd Edition. Pp101-133. Washington, DC: Island Press
6.3 Beatley, T., Brower, D.J. and A.K. Schwab. 2002. State coastal management programs. In An
Introduction to coastal Zone management, 2rd Edition. Pp135-172. Washington, DC: Island Press.
6.4 Beatley, T., Brower, D.J. and A.K. Schwab. 2002. Local coastal management. In An Introduction to
coastal Zone management, 2nd Edition. Pp197-233, 244-247. Washington, DC: Island Press
Nov. 8-- Integrated Approaches: Coastal Management in China
8.1 Julia McCleavea, X.Z. Xue, H. S, Hong. 2003. Lessons learned from “decentralized” ICM: an analysis
of Canada’s Atlantic Coastal Action Program and China’s Xiamen ICM Program. Ocean & Coastal
Management 46 (2003) 59–76
8.2 Chua, T-E, D. Bonga, and N. Bermas-Atrizenio. 2006. Dynamics of Integrated coastal management:
PEMSEA’s experience. Coastal Management 34: 303-322.
8.3 Lau, M. 2005. Integrated coastal management in the People’s Republic of China-An assessment of
structural impacts on decision-making process. Ocean and Coastal Management 48: 115-159
Nov.15, 22-- Ecosystem Approaches: The New Paradigm
9.1 Yaffee, S.L. 1999. Three faces of ecosystem management. Conservation Biology 13: 713-725*
9.2 Slocombe, D.S. 1998. Defining goals and criteria for ecosystem-based management. Environmental
Management 22:483-493.*
9.3 Cortner, H. and M. Moot. 1999. A paradigm shift? In The Politics of Ecosystem of Ecosystem
Management, 37-55. Washington DC: Island Press.
9.4 Freyfogle, E. and J. Newton. 2002. Putting science in its place. Conservation Biology 16: 863-873
9.5 Keough, H. and D. Blahna. 2006. Achieving integrative, collaborative ecosystem management.
Conservation Biology 20: 1373-1382
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9.6 Bourroughs, R. 2003. Goal and trend assessment to define coastal ecosystem management initiative.
Local Environment 8: 277-290.
9.7 Olson, P., folk, C. and F. Berkes. 2004. Adaptive co-management for building resilience in
social-ecological systems. Environmental Management 34: 75-90.
Nov. 29 Ecosystem Approaches: Institutional ad Organization Change
10.1 Cortner, H., Wallace, M., Burke, S. and M. Moot. 1998. Institutions matter: The need to address the
institutional challenges of ecosystem management. Landscape and Urban Planning 40: 159-166*
10.2 Hershman, M. and C. Russell. 2006. Regional ocean governance in the United States: Concept and
reality. Duke Environmental Law and Policy Forum 16: 227-265. www.Law.duke.edu/journals/delpf
10.3 Smith, C.L. 2002. Institutional mapping of Oregon coastal watershed management options. Ocean
and Coastal Management 45: 357-375.
10.4 Growder, L. et al. 2006. Resolving mismatches in US ocean governance. Science 13: 617-618.
Dec. 6, 13. Watershed management
Prof. Chen TBA
Dec. 20, 27. –Regional Ocean Governance case study: The Chesapeake as a Policy Experience
Emst, H. 2003. Chesapeake Bay Blues: Science, Politics, and the Struggle to Save the Bay. Lanham, MD:
Rowman and Littlefield.
12.3 Introduction, p1-6
12.4 Chapter 1. The Chesapeake Bay: Management of North America’s Largest estuary, p9-29
12.5 Chapter 2. The Chesapeake as a political dilemma, p 31-49.
12.6 Chapter 3 Nutrient reduction efforts in the Bay watershed, p 53-68
12.7 Chapter 4. The political fight for nutrient management policy, p 69-86.
12.8 Chapter 7. Toward a higher future for the Chesapeake Bay, p 129-145.
Jan. 3 –Regional Ocean Governance: Case study of China
13.1 Peng BR, R., Bourroughs, Dijin. 2008. Regional Ocean governance in China: An Appraisal of the
Clean Bohai Sea Program. Coastal Management, 37:70–93, 2009*
13.2 Yahua Wang. 2006. River Governance Structure in China: A Study of Water Quantity/Quality
Management Regime. Working paper. www.cideg,org.cn
13.3 Canfa WANG, Edwin D. Ongley. 2004. Trans-jurisdictional Water Pollution Management: The Huai
River Example. Water International, Volume 29: 290–298.
13.4 Edwin D. Ongley and Xuejun Wang. 2004. “Trans-jurisdictional Water Pollution Management in
China: The Legal and Institutional Framework.” Water International, Volume 29: 270-281.
Jan 10, 17 –Paper Presentation
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