Much of the blame for this can, of course, be attributed to lax regulations; in the U.S., the first (and last) major
wave of national legislation addressing ocean and coastal conservation was enacted in the 1970s, with the enactment of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA) and Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA), amongst others.In recent years, we've seen coastal states taking the initiative in
forming regional partnerships aimed at protecting and promoting their dwindling
oceanic and coastal resources.