The ocean drives the global systems that make the Earth a habitable place for humans. Our rain, drinking water, weather, climate, coastlines, much of our food and even the oxygen in the air we breathe are provided and regulated by the sea.

Careful management of this essential global resource is a key feature of a sustainable future. However, at present, there is a continuous deterioration of coastal waters due to pollution and ocean acidification that is having an adverse effect on the functioning of ecosystems and biodiversity. Likewise, it is also having a detrimental impact on small-scale fisheries.

Protecting our oceans must remain a priority. Marine biodiversity is vital for the health of people and our planet. Marine Protected Areas must be managed effectively, as well as their resources, and regulations must be put in place to reduce overfishing, marine pollution and ocean acidification.