Towards an Ecological Economics of the Oceans and Coasts

Abstract

Patterson (New Zealand Centre for Ecological Economics, Massey U., New Zealand) and Glavovic (School of People, Environment and Planning at Massey U.) aim to help establish an ecological economics of the oceans and coasts by presenting 15 papers that address four sequential and interrelated themes: the role of ecological processes in underpinning coastal and oceanic systems; the ways ecological economists can deal with "value conflicts" that result from human interactions with these coastal and oceanic processes and systems; how ecological economists can integrate their understanding of the economic, ecological, and social dimensions of coastal and oceanic systems; and how to implement the answers to those issues in order to achieve sustainability goals.