Table Of ContentMARINE ECOSYSTEM-BASED
D I F F E R E N T P A T H W A Y S
MANAGEMENT IN PRACTICE
C O M M O N L E S S O N S
Julia M. Wondolleck and
Steven L. Yaffee
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Marine Ecosystem-Based Management in Practice
Marine Ecosystem-Based
Management in Practice
Different Pathways,
Common Lessons
Julia M. Wondolleck and Steven L. Yaffee
Washington | Covelo | London
Copyright © 2017 Julia M. Wondolleck and Steven L. Yaffee
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part
of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission in writing
from the publisher: Island Press, 2000 M Street, Suite 650, Washington, DC 20036
Island Press is a trademark of The Center for Resource Economics.
Library of Congress Control Number: 2016961569
Printed on recycled, acid-free paper
Manufactured in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Keywords: Island Press, Albemarle–Pamlico, biodiversity, Channel Islands, coastal community
resilience, coastal management, coastal protection, collaboration, collaborative planning, col-
laborative problem solving, community-based resource management, conflict management,
conservation partnerships, dispute resolution, ecological restoration, ecosystem-based man-
agement, ecosystem management, ecosystems, environmental conflict resolution, fisheries
management, Florida Keys, Gulf of Maine, Gulf of Mexico, human dimensions of wildlife,
integrated resource management, interagency cooperation, marine conservation, marine
governance, marine protected areas, marine reserves, marine stewardship, Narragansett
Bay, national estuary programs, national marine sanctuaries, natural resource management,
natural resource planning, nearshore resource management, network organizations, ocean
management, ocean policy, Port Orford, POORT, Puget Sound, regional planning, San
Juan Marine Resources Committee, science-based management, transnational collaboration,
Wadden Sea Trilateral Cooperation.
contents
List of Illustrations x
Preface xi
Chapter 1: Drawing Lessons from Experience in Marine Ecosystem-
Based Management 1
Ecosystem-Based Management in Practice 3
Different Paths but Common Lessons 5
Five Types of Marine Ecosystem-Based Management Initiatives 6
Bricks and Mortar 9
Navigating the Book 9
Chapter 2: Navigating International Boundaries in the Gulf of
Maine and Puget Sound Georgia Basin 13
The Gulf of Maine and the Puget Sound Georgia Basin 14
Getting Started: Bottom-Up versus Top-Down Origins 16
Bridging a Single Ecosystem but Two Distinct Institutional Contexts 19
Surviving the Transition from Initiation to Institutionalization 27
Conclusion 40
Chapter 3: Mobilizing a Multistate Partnership in the Gulf of Mexico 43
Sarah McKearnan and Steven Yaffee
The Environmental Protection Agency’s Gulf of Mexico Program Initiates
Cross-State Collaboration 45
Impetus for the Gulf of Mexico Alliance 46
First Step: Establishing Goals and Prioritizing Issues 51
Developing an Organizational Structure to Sustain Collaboration 52
A Targeted and Practical Approach 57
An Adaptive and Accountable Approach 60
viii Contents
An Early Focus on Developing Information, Tools, and Networks 62
Political Will 65
Navigating Tricky State-State and State-Federal Waters 67
A Process That Created Trust and Cooperation 72
Conclusion 73
Chapter 4: Balancing Top-Down Authority with Bottom-Up
Engagement in the Florida Keys and Channel Islands 75
Biologically Diverse Places Facing Multiple Stresses and Threats 76
The Tipping Point for Action 79
Dealing with Jurisdictional Complexity through Partnerships and
Co-management 83
Navigating Conflict and Informing Management through Stakeholder
Engagement 87
Balancing Top-Down Authority with Effective Bottom-Up Process 91
Conclusion 98
Chapter 5: Motivating Engagement in Voluntary Programs in
Narragansett Bay and the Albemarle–Pamlico Estuary 99
The Albemarle–Pamlico and Narragansett Bay National Estuary Programs 100
Creating Management Plans That Prompt Action: The Goldilocks
Dilemma 103
Gaining Traction 109
Developing Management-Relevant Science That Enables Priority Setting 114
Dealing with Disinterest, Opposition, and Turf 117
Organizational Dilemmas: Identity, Location, and Capacity 122
Conclusion 128
Chapter 6: Influencing Management from the Bottom Up in Port
Orford, Oregon, and San Juan County, Washington 131
The Port Orford and San Juan County Community-Based Initiatives 131
Informal Beginnings Rooted in Place and Entrepreneurial Individuals 136
Establishing Legitimacy: Two Contrasting Paths 137
Ensuring Credibility: Science-Based Stewardship and Extensive Outreach 140
Creating Influence through Mutually Beneficial Partnerships 146
Conclusion 151
Contents ix
Chapter 7: Bricks: Tangible Elements That Support & Guide
Marine Ecosystem-Based Management 153
Constructing the Missing Table 153
Delineating an Initiative’s Niche: Authorities, Purpose, and Scope 155
The Governance Infrastructure of Marine Ecosystem-Based Management
Initiatives 157
Codified Roles and Responsibilities 175
Conclusion 183
Chapter 8: Mortar: Intangible Factors That Propel & Sustain
Marine Ecosystem-Based Management 187
People: Their Motivations and Relationships 189
Sense of Place and Purpose 194
An Effective and Rewarding Process 196
Sustained Commitment and Leadership at All Levels 205
Conclusion 207
Chapter 9: Implications for Policy and Practice 209
Overall Observations 209
Advice for Practitioners and Agencies 218
Advice for Funders 223
Advice for Policy Makers 227
Moving the Dials to Advance Ecosystem-Based Management in
Specific Places 231
Notes 235
About the Authors 255
Index 257
