for example in recent years the european union has adopted two instruments the eu recommendation on integrated coastal zone management and the marine strategy framework directive which offer a comprehensive and integrated approach to the management of all european coasts and marine waters and set medium and longterm objectives to and beyond for member states for managing their ocean activities east asia has its partnerships in environmental management for the seas of east asia pemsea an international organisation focused on coastal and ocean governance in east asia scaling up integrated coastal management initiatives and aiming to improve technical cooperation in ecosystembased management of watersheds estuaries and adjacent coastal seas in addition to the lack of protection that such gaps afford the ocean environment and its biodiversity they create a decisionmaking vacuum for many ocean industries notably in respect of future investment by way of illustration the negotiations around the implementation of the un agreement to protect marine biodiversity promise to usher in a period of considerable uncertainty for those ocean industries operating in the high seas