This research aims to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the extent international law and provide opportunities for coastal communities to engage in the development of ocean-related policies and regulations. Governance of oceans has been subjected to the process of reorganization in response to pertinent external factors. The concept of the blue economy with the related notions of growth, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and climate change represents an intricate network of political decisions, investments driven by states and private companies, as well as scientific and technological innovation. The recognition and respect of community rights to manage natural resources lead to the delivery of benefits for biodiversity, carbon storage, and livelihoods. The paradigm shift in ocean governance is inextricably connected to the influence of SDG 16 in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which has brought the concept of “no one left behind” to the fore. Furthermore, local knowledge, gained through the long experience of people in a place, can complement, correct, or provide alternative perspectives to the scientific or professional knowledge of policymakers. A normative method with an interdisciplinary approach is used and the data are collected through literature research, with the main search focusing on international instruments, such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the High Seas Treaty, and decisions of international forums on ocean governance. The results show that sustainability and social justice are of particular concern to contemporary coastal communities. These objectives necessitate the implementation of adaptive coastal governance to enhance the capabilities of communities and ensure the sustainability of natural resources. Moreover, international environmental law has established a framework facilitating community participation in governance of marine resources and the environment.
Tarigan et al. (Wed,) studied this question.