Coastal Governance

Coastal Governance provides a clear overview of how U.S. coasts are currently managed and explores new approaches that could make our shores healthier. Drawing on recent national assessments, Professor Richard Burroughs explains why traditional management techniques have ultimately proved inadequate, leading to polluted waters, declining fisheries, and damaged habitat. He then introduces students to governance frameworks that seek to address these shortcomings by  considering natural and human systems holistically.

The book familiarizes students not only with current management techniques but with the policy process. By focusing on policy development, Coastal Governance prepares readers with the knowledge to participate eff ectively in a governance system that is constantly evolving. This understanding will be critical as students become managers, policymakers, and citizens who shape the future of the coasts.

Richard Burroughs is Professor of Marine Affairs at the University of Rhode Island and Adjunct Professor of Coastal Science and Policy at Yale University. His recent articles have appeared in Coastal Management, Journal of Urban Technology, Maritime Policy and Management, Local Environment, Society and Natural Resources, and The Journal of Maritime Law and Commerce.