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Marine and Coastal Conflicts
Human impact is one of the major key factors that drives the depletion of natural resources from the environment. From the decreasing availability of these ocean resources, an increase in competition follows suit. As a result, marine and coastal conflicts may arise from drivers of change. These drivers of change may include changing variables such as an increasing population, food or water security, a changing marine environment, etc.

For example, the Theory of Marine and Coastal Conflict, proposed by Karen A. Alexander, states that if exacerbating factors are included in the situation, then the political and social factors would eventually lead to conflict. This theory is best visualized in the diagram below:

* insert Figure 7.1*

Alexander's theory of Marine and Coastal Conflict emphasizes that the competition for resources does not always lead to conflict unless there is a certain political, social, and/or cultural involvement. An example of the components of this theory is reflected in Tim Tsai's documentary, Seadrift (2019). Seadrift (2019) encompasses the rising tension between the local fishermen and the Vietnamese immigrants at Seadrift, Texas around mid- to late 70’s. Following the fall of Saigon in the Vietnam War, a large wave of immigrant refugees were taken in by the United States.

The job market was severely impacted as an outcome of the war as well as the large waves of immigrants, which led to a competition for employment including the fishing industry at Seadrift, Texas. In consequence of poor governance and regulations, the increased competition ultimately led to the death of an American caused by a Vietnamese war refugee over a dispute in crabbing territory. After the series of court sessions and the final ruling that Sau Van Nguyen was innocent, tensions escalated so high that a resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan occurred.

The Grey Zone
Machias Seal Island is situated in the middle of a disputed territory referred by the locals as 'The Grey Zone'. The Grey Zone is an area that is situated approximately 11.2 miles off the Northern coast of Maine and approximately 11.4 miles off the coast of New Brunswick. This area is a large 277 sq mi of territory that is being continuously disputed between Canadian and American fishermen. Along with the rising ocean water temperatures, the lobster populations have continued to migrate North. This environmental change has also spawned a large-scale reproductive increase. As a result, from 2002 to 2016, the amount of lobsters caught increased 1,500% In 2016 alone, Canadian lobster and fishing industry caught approximately $9 million in lobster catch while the American lobster and fishing industry caught approximately 132 million pounds of lobster with a worth of $583 million. This created a drastic increase in interest in the lobster industry on both the Canadian and the United States border of Maine.

In consequence of overlapping territory claims over the jurisdiction of the Grey Zone from both Canada and the United States, this conflict of interest between both countries' lobster and fishing industries has escalated into a marine and coastal conflict. Additionally, the lack of government intervention has escalated the disputes between fishermen. Actions such as sabotaging cages or cutting lines have continued to escalate the tension in the Grey Zone waters. Additionally, in the beginning of the lobster fish increase in 2002, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada shifted their time window of fishing allowed to match the United States timeframe under the pretense that the United States would severely impact the fishing industry of Canada based on their choice of seasonal fishing frames. The disputes continue to this day.

Punctuated equilibrium in environmental policy
Although environmental policymakers have been continuously updating their decision making as more updated research is published, the rapid rate of climate change and shifting political climate has affected the rate at which these policies are being implemented. The theory of policies states that in the policy-making process, there will be critical periods and equilibrium periods. Critical periods involve stricter regulations of companies or organizations and the implementation of new laws or updated policies which would be effective in a wider timeframe. Equilibrium points, on the other hand, are more specifically added to preexisting policies or smaller modifications based on ongoing events.

In George J. Busenberg's book, this theory is reflected appropriately. Shortly after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989, consistent effort in updating the environmental policy in Alaskan waters was being made. Busenberg theorizes that due to the catastrophic oil pollution, the increased social tension of Alaskan locals, and rising political conflicts of interest, environmental policymakers began taking action. Increased efforts in updating the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act of 1973 took place after the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Despite these increased efforts, a call for an entirely new policy was made therefore placing this equilibrium period into a critical period of policy-making. As a result of this event, an environmental policy reformation took place in order to protect the Alaskan waters from yet another detrimental oil spill.