PORT ADMINISTRATION AND COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT IN VANCOUVER, BRITISH-COLUMBIA - A COMPARISON WITH SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

Large North American ports are encountering serious management challen ges. Surrounding communities, environmental interest groups, and gover nment policy are focusing on protection and enhancement of public coas tal amenities. In Vancouver the federal port management system histori cally enabled national trade interests to override local and regional objectives at the discretion of port decison makers. In contrast, the Port of Seattle is administered at the local level, and legislation an d policy require that local publics are involved in decision-making. R ecently, VPC established itself as the vanguard among Canada's major p orts in the advancement of progressive management. Nevertheless, the a doption of new policies would ensure that Vancouver, and Canada's othe r ports, continue to be responsible leaders in Canadian coastal manage ment. These policies include: federal municipal, and provincial govern ment representation on the local board of directors; strengthening com munity involvement; creation of a standing planning advisory committee ; subjecting Canadian ports to the federal environmental assessment la w, and adoption of explicit land and water use regulations.