A Sea of Troubles: GESAMP Reports and Studies No. 70

The state of the world’s seas and oceans is deteriorating. Most of the problems identified decades ago have not been resolved, and many are worsening. New threats keep emerging. The traditional uses of the seas and coasts – and the benefits that humanity gets from them - have been widely undermined. All this is happening because human activities are increasing and extending over ever wider areas. The closer the seas come to people, the greater is the damage. Ill planned (and often unplanned) coastal development is one of the main driving forces behind the environmental problems of the oceans. Apart from overfishing, the greatest harm is caused by what we do on land - and particularly at the coasts - rather than at sea.