The earth’s ocean and coastal ecosystems play a crucial role in maintaining the global environmental equilibrium. Healthy and productive oceans provide essential services to human communities, supporting economic wellbeing, and human health. These include: providing food, shoreline protection, water quality maintenance, waste treatment, a source of non living resources for energy and trade, recreation and tourism, culture and playing a critical role in regulating the earth’s climate.

Human activities are putting the Blue World under increasing pressure. The resulting changes in the marine environment are occurring at a faster pace than anticipated, affecting especially the most vulnerable marine ecosystems. Through capacity development, assessment initiatives and innovative communication and facilitation tools and processes, the Marine Division promotes responsible and sustainable management of our oceans and coasts by addressing issues of sovereignty, natural resource management, coastal habitat conservation and a transition to a green economy.