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Most of the world's seafish is caught within 200 nautical miles, or 370 km, from the coast. Fisheries in these so-called Exclusive Economic Zones, over which states have special rights, are vital to millions of people, particularly in developing countries.

The coastal fisheries sector provides many people with their most nutritious food. The sector is also an important employer, supporting livelihoods and generating revenues for local communities and for countries alike.

Yet, there is growing pressure on the marine biodiversity of coastal areas. Increasing demand for fish, pollution and climate change are among the chief challenges endangering aquatic species and threatening coastal ecosystems, including mangroves and coral reefs.

To strike a balance between the economic and social weight of coastal fisheries and the need to protect the marine environment, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) launched the Coastal Fisheries Initiative to forge a global partnership aimed at making the sector more sustainable.

The initiative complements GEF's multi-country Large-Marine Ecosystem (LME) approach.