Making Ocean Policy: The Politics of Government Organization and Management

Written in response to the increasing interest in the making of ocean policy, this collection of original articles surveys the history of U.S. ocean policy, ocean policy advocacy, and the struggle within government to determine how best to develop and implement a sensible ocean policy. The increasing complexity of the issues, programs, and policies related to marine and coastal zone matters and the increasing number of government agencies and interest groups formed to deal with these matters reflect the growing awareness of their importance. But, reflect the editors, in an enormously complex world, where many interests are in conflict and where information is tentative and incomplete―yet often overwhelmingly abundant―there are few easy solutions to ocean policy problems.

Francis W. Hoole is associate professor of political science at Indiana University. Robert L. Friedheim is professor of international relations and associate director for marine policy studies, Institute for Marine and Coastal Studies, University of Southern California. Timothy M. Hennessey is professor of political science and associate of the Center for Ocean Management Studies and the International Center for Marine Resource Development at the University of Rhode Island.