title: International marine environmental governance: A review.
abstract: Impressive numbers of global and regional governmental and non-governmental organizations are working in the field of the marine environment and its resources. Many of these organizations operate within international legal frameworks ranging from comprehensive global conventions, such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to regional agreements aiming at protection and development of regional seas. Characteristic for the management of these seas, both at the national and international level, is that sectoral approaches predominate. Over time, several initiatives have been taken to improve cooperation, coordination and integration to achieve greater coherence of policies and strategies between different organizations dealing with marine and maritime management, within and outside the United Nation system. However, the success has been limited. The weaknesses of international organizations depend fundamentally on problems at the national level. The international organizations are no stronger than their Contracting Parties allow them to be.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden. bkjell.grip@swipnet.se.|, Mandelblomsgatan 11, 745 36, Enköping, Sweden. bkjell.grip@swipnet.se.
authors.forename: Kjell
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Grip
mesh_terms: D017691:Caribbean Region; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005060:Europe; D007390:International Agencies / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D007391:International Cooperation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D009792:Oceans and Seas
keywords: Convention; International organization; Marine; Planning and management; Sustainable development