Water Resour Manage DOI 10.1007/s11269-009-9407-4 Strategic Partnership for Sustainable Management of Aquatic Resources J. I. Agboola · A. K. Braimoh Received: 8 April 2008 / Accepted: 14 January 2009 © Springer Science + Business Media B.V. 2009 Abstract Several global environmental assessments indicate that the aquatic ecosys- tems have been profoundly influenced by human activities. Nonetheless, aquatic resources continue to be managed on a sectoral basis with virtually no integration between sectors or with other environmental management strategies. This paper reviews human impact on aquatic resources and argues for a strategic partnership (SP) of stakeholders for sustainable management of aquatic resources. SP integrates the objectives of ecosystem-based and co/community-based approach to manage- ment. It consists of a resources inventory plan designed to improve the status of the ecosystem, and a long-term strategy integrating scientific research with conservation action. The suitability of SP for aquatic resources management is illustrated with two examples. Successful implementation of SP however requires the establishment of relevant administrative structure and legal environment at all scales of governance. Keywords Aquatic resources · Sustainable governance · Strategic partnership · Stakeholders 1 Introduction Aquatic resources refer to water and its multiple roles as a natural resource in supporting all human, animal and plant life. They encompass all the possible roles for water in terms of quality and quantity for intended uses, supporting the functioning of aquatic ecosystems and as an essential component of economic development. J. I. Agboola (B ) Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0810, Japan e-mail: juliusia@ees.hokudai.ac.jp A. K. Braimoh Global Land Project, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0809, Japan