Guiding Principles in the Marine and Coastal Act

1. Planning and management for the marine and coastal environment should be co-ordinated and integrated, as appropriate, across
   1. the marine and coastal environment and associated catchments
   2. the water cycle, including as it relates to estuaries, oceans, bays and coastal waters, groundwater and waterways, where this affects the marine and coastal environment and water quality
   3. industry sectors and users of the marine and coastal environment
   4. land tenure where this affects the marine and coastal environment
2. Planning and management should also consider long-term and short-term environmental, social and economic considerations.

1. The maintenance and, where appropriate, restoration of marine and coastal ecosystem structure and function is fundamental to the current and future use and enjoyment of Victoria's marine and coastal environment, its resources, and the ecosystem services provided.
   1. An ecosystem-based approach should underpin Victoria's marine and coastal planning and management system, incorporating
   2. avoiding detrimental cumulative or incremental ecosystem impacts
   3. working with natural processes where practical
2. Building ecosystem resilience to climate change impacts where possible.

Use and development that affects the marine and coastal environment should be focused on improving the total quality of life of Victorians, across current and future generations, in a way that maintains the ecological processes on which life depends.

Marine and coastal planning and management decisions should be based on best available and relevant environmental, social and economic understanding, recognising that information will often be limited.

If there are threats of serious or irreversible environmental and other damage, lack of full certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental or other degradation.

Risk management and regulatory approaches should be proportionate to the risk involved.

Decision-makers should learn from the outcomes of operational programs and, in light of that, change policies and practices.