Sustainable development and the oceans

Sustainable development focuses on the linkages of environment, economy and the well-being of people. Sustainability solutions depend upon solid stakeholder relationships, integrated approaches that take into account initiatives at levels ranging from local to global, and innovation of many sorts. Despite the significance of sustainable development in the treatment of our relationship to the oceans, few nations currently base their ocean and coastal zone management laws and policies explicitly and comprehensively around principles of sustainable development. And, at a global level, it is only gradually that such concepts are being incorporated into post-UNCLOS agreements. It is concluded that most of the work lies in the years ahead.