International institutional arrangements influencing Australian integrated coastal management

The ecological, economic and social importance of the coastal zone is significant, for Australia as elsewhere. There are numerous international institutional arrangements to which Australia is a party that influence Australian integrated coastal management. While there is no single, coordinated instrument pertaining to the coastal environment at international law, there is, however, a raft of international arrangements that create duties and obligations for party states with reference to the coastal zone. This paper outlines the various instruments that may impact on coastal management regimes in Australia