USA-Adriatic Cooperation in Coastal Affairs

Abstract

Coastal regions are considered among the most biodiverse regions on earth. Unfortunately, coastal ecosystems have been significantly altered and damaged by unsustainable uses and activities (e.g. commercial and recreational fishing, recreational diving and boating, tourism, etc.). Without proper management of all components within the ecosystem, the viability of the ecosystem is threatened. However, since there is no consensus regarding the concept of sustainable development, no basis exists for establishing criteria for attaining sustainable development. Frequently, a single-issue approach to ocean and coastal management creates overlapping, uncoordinated laws and jurisdictions that result in conflict and increasing disturbance with increasing coastal activities.

A potential solution is to establish national and international guidelines to better plan and manage coastal resources uses, and to develop best management practices for each and every type of activity in coastal areas. This requires improved attention to environmental conditions to reduce negative impacts on coastal ecosystems. Therefore, there is a need for an analytical framework and guidelines at national and international levels. Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) is a major international initiative launched in support of the wise management and ecosystem approach to coastal zone management. An important element for successful long-term coastal management is educational capacity and effort on the national and regional level.

The southern part of the Adriatic Sea has been identified as a global biodiversity hotspot (Conservation International (CI), 2001). This region is an ideal candidate for ICM. I would like to propose an idea of a “summer workshop” for integrated coastal management that would address the current environmental and management issues that are affecting the Adriatic area and their causes. The workshop would be designed to be an intensive training for coastal management professionals. It would be taught by a group of experts from the region, with the support of ICM experts from the United States and Europe. In addition, the summer workshop will engage in a wide variety of interdisciplinary projects providing examples (case studies) for multi-investigator and multi-disciplinary applied science/research and technology that will address real issues and their solutions. The summer workshop’s courses would represent an important occasion to share knowledge and experience with a view to strengthen cooperation among the participants and enhance linkages between the Adriatic countries and current transatlantic partnerships. The main approach will be “teaching and learning by doing,” and would integrate science/research and policy through development of practical and feasible solutions to the region’s problems.

Another, more recent international approach to coastal management is the establishment of marine protected areas (MP As). MP As have been used effectively both nationally and internationally to conserve biodiversity, manage natural resources, protect endangered species, reduce user conflicts, provide educational and research opportunities, and enhance sustainable commercial and recreational uses of marine resources. Transboundary ecosystems, like the Adriatic Sea, have generally received limited protection, with only rare efforts by planners to coordinate conservation efforts across political lines. Challenges that face creation of national MP As also face international ones, including political, legal and social obstacles.

The United States has been a leading country in ICM and MPAs. The U.S. MPAs include national marine sanctuaries, national estuarine research reserves, fisheries management zones, national seashores, national parks, national monuments, critical habitats, national wildlife refuges, and many others. Establishment of MPAs and development of their management strategies could enhance collaborative efforts between the U.S. and Adriatic region. A good example is an already established Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) between the US National Park Service (NPS) and Croatian Ministry for Environmental Protection and Physical Planning. This and similar efforts could help countries in the Adriatic region to better solve coastal issues and implement sustainable development, locally and internationally.