¹Key Laboratory for Marine Environmental Science of Ministry of Education, Environmental Science Research Center, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
²Xiamen Marine and Fishery Environmental Monitoring Station
³Department of International Development Studies, Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, B3H 3C3, Canada

^*Corresponding author: E-mail: xzxue@jingxian.xmu.edu.cn

Abstract

   Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) is a feasible approach to address coastal issues, including resource use conflicts, ecological environments and management issues. An institutional arrangement is a precondition for the fulfillment of management functions. Therefore, a scientific institutional arrangement must be established as soon as possible for more effective implementation of ICM. In this paper, theories on ICM institutional arrangements were analyzed. In addition, characteristics and lessons learned domestically and internationally from the ICM institutional arrangements were summarized. Finally, based on the issues encountered in the first Xiamen ICM implementation, as well as on the major existing problems faced in Xiamen’s coast, establishing a new ICM institutional arrangement for Xiamen was proposed.