Ecosystem Approaches to the Management of Ocean-Related Activities

Healthy ecosystems provide invaluable functions and services that are essential to the marine environment and to human well-being. Unfortunately, some human activities have had an adverse impact on the structure and functioning of marine ecosystems. A multitude of stressors, such as pollution, overfishing, coastal development, invasive alien species, and climate change, have impaired the ability of these ecosystems to provide essential goods and services. This training manual focuses on the development and implementation of an ecosystem approach to the management of human activities and their impacts on the marine environment. An ecosystem approach is essentially an evolution of integrated coastal and ocean management, with a greater emphasis on ecosystem goals and objectives and their outcomes.