Institutional aspects of the coastal zone : the case of estuarine management on Vancouver Island
Date
1977
Authors
Ferguson, Alan John
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Abstract
Environmental problems often stimulate a search for more appropriate laws, policies and administrative mechanisms. Within the coastal zone, the increased intensity of resource use demands and growing awareness of environmental deterioration has given rise to a reappraisal of traditional institutions and management practices. Many of the existing problems originate in the market failure to identify property rights and externalities. They reflect the need for an effective institutional structure for the expression of social preferences, formulation of resource use rules and provision of public goods and services.
Coastal resource management has developed with a focus on the deterioration of resources, the complexity of jurisdictions and administrations and the nature of diverse resource use demands, It implies a broad basis for the formulation of resource management strategies and plans; one in which a wide range of problems, alternatives and participants are considered. Yet there can be constraints within the institutional structure which influence the process of decision making. This study examines some of these constraints in the management of estuaries.
Estuaries are amongst the most productive natural systems, providing nutrient-rich environments for the development of marine life. Conflict over the use of estuarine areas has resulted in criticism of existing laws, policies and administrative mechanisms. As a basis to analyzing this institutional structure, three criteria are employed: (l) the recognition and b1ternalization of externalities, (2) the availability of information and technical resources, and (3) the opportunity to participate in the decision making process. These are evaluated in four estuarine areas associated with Cowichan River, Nanaimo River, Englishman River, and Courtenay River.
The results of the study indicate that estuarine management problems and their spatial dimensions vary significantly making it difficult to identify a distinct set of managers, problems and participants in the decision process. The problems often are not limited to local areas but encompass issues of regional development. Externalities were institutionally internalized through various coordinative measures, yet this process also displayed a lack of distinct estuarine objectives and decision making guidelines. Similarly, the evaluation of alternatives revealed difficulties in predicting the specific effects of estuarine modification and the lack of readily available environmental information relating to the estuarine areas. While significant coordination occurred within government, there was limited public access to the decision process. These cases emphasize the ad hoc piecemeal manner in which estuarine issues are dealt with and the lack of distinct decision making rules.
It is concluded that there is a need for great commitment to estuarine protection and more explicit management objectives and guidelines. Better and more specific environmental research would assist the regional planning process in defining the requirements for estuarine protection. Furthermore, greater integration if resource management and community values could enhance the formulation of estuarine policies. A wide variety of management capabilities exist, the important task lies in improving their application.