AbstractThe types of pressures evident in coastal regions are typified by the Jervis Bay region in south‐eastern Australia which, despite a long history of human occupation, remains largely undisturbed. How much longer those values and the ecological processes which sustain them will remain viable is questionable.This paper describes the development of a conservation management strategy which sought an integrated approach to management of the terrestrial and marine resources of the Bay region. A geographical information system (GIS) was developed for the region, using the raster‐based E‐RMS GIS software system.A continuum of conservation management options for the region was defined, ranging from no change to the presently limited protected area system (which covers only 7.5% of the region), to almost complete reservation. The preferred option, known as the Jervis Bay Conservation Zone, was derived using a landscape ecology approach. This involves a coordinated approach to conservation management by private and public agencies and individuals, with variable levels of control on the use of core habitat and adjacent land/sea areas.Three specific findings of relevance to the management of coastal aquatic resources elsewhere were that (1) traditional ‘reservation‐based’ approaches to conservation management in isolation are not likely to be effective in conserving biodiversity over time; (2) the planning process should be open for review by non‐technical audiences to facilitate community understanding and support; and (3) GIS can be a very useful tool for data organization