ABSTRACT
The contemporary economic development of the world ocean—indeed the world—has its roots in the Western European region during the second half of the fifteenth century. Maritime cultures have three essential components, namely, an economic dimension focused on sea uses; an environmental dimension focused on the sea itself; and a social dimension focused on human societies. The later development of settled agricultural societies was concentrated in large river valleys and adjacent coasts, mainly in North Africa, south west and south Asia, and the monsoon lands to the east; together with the tropical highlands of the Americas. The emergence of civil society groups concerns themselves with ocean use, marine access and protection, which had its origins in the stage dating from the 1830s and 1840s. In a maritime context, particular interest attaches to the 'mixed economy' systems both at national and international levels.
