Ocean Governance
Ocean resources are increasingly recognized as at risk of depletion and collapse, yet disagreement remains over who should adjust their actions and by how much. Who decides the rules governing ocean use, and how are those rules enforced? What frameworks exist for sharing ocean resources, and what tradeoffs do they entail? What motivations drive human actions and negotiations in the ocean, and what role does science play? Through readings, case studies, and team activities, this course examines governance of marine common-pool resources. Students explore past successes and failures to identify guiding principles for equitable ocean management. Guest speakers in applied careers offer diverse perspectives on pathways to ocean protection.
Topics
- Describe characteristics of common pool resources in the ocean, the challenges they present, and applicable management systems. Analyze ocean governance institutions and identify examples and applications of community-based, regulatory, and market-based ocean governance. Evaluate human behavior and decision making , especially cooperative behavior, in the ocean through a range of theoretical frameworks. Assess the effectiveness of governance scenarios and specific steps for improvement in terms of environmental justice, conservation, and economic outcomes. Identify diverse options for ocean policy/governance careers , their purview, actions they impact, challenges they confront, and pathways for recent graduates in early careers.
Official catalogue course objectives and student learning outcomes
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027