ABSTRACT
Marine ecosystems represent some of the most heavily exploited ecosystems throughout the world. For example, coastal zones make up just 4% of the earth’s total land area and 11% of the world’s oceans. Healthy marine ecosystems are important for society since they provide services including food security, feed for livestock and raw materials for medicines etc. Marine ecosystems produce various resources that benefit humanity, and the seas and coasts are vital to the survival and well-being of a large section of the world’s population. As challenges such as land-use change, overfishing, climate change, the invasion of non-native species, and other anthropogenic activities have an impact on biodiversity. The demand on marine ecosystems and the resources they provide is increasing. International fisheries play a critical part in ensuring food and economic security around the world. Still, many fish populations are not managed according to scientific advice and best practices, a reality that is taking a toll on many important marine species. We need to protect the marine ecosystem by achieving a blue economy because it acts as carbon sequestration and provides us with oil, gas and minerals. It is a source of renewable energy, salt production, route for transportation and trade, facilitates tourism and a source of education and research. Export of fish, seafood, sea plants like algae, and the like, adds to the economy of the country. Therefore, to achieve a blue economy, some actions like control of wastage and chemical disposals, reduction of wastage, treatment of waste before disposal, research to save clean water, spreading knowledge of marine ecosystem management, and so forth, has been undertaken.
