Marine and Coastal Ecosystem Stewardship

Our seas and coasts are an asset with rich and varied resources, both living and non-living. They support livelihoods through marine and coastal industries such as fishing, aquaculture, energy extraction and tourism. They provide spaces for recreation, play and relaxation. For the many of us who live at the coasts, the marine environment provides a sense of place and identity. Indeed, in some locations, particularly small island nations, our seas and coasts define cultures, and cultural practices such as ‘pearling’ (the traditional sea-use of harvesting pearls from oyster beds in Bahrain) have even been entered into the World Heritage List.