Introduction

Marine and coastal resources provide millions of impoverished people across the global South with livelihoods, and provide the world with a range of critical ‘ecosystem services’, from bio-diversity and culture to carbon storage and flood protection (Mohammed, 2012) including recreation and amenity (Whitmash, 2011). Fisheries alone provide multiple benefits to many poor and impoverished coastal communities in many developing countries. Fish is a major source of food for the majority of poor and vulnerable communities. The sector also provides jobs to many men and women. Some 43.5 million people work directly in the sector, with the great majority in developing countries. Adding those who work in associated processing, marketing, distribution and supply industries, it supports nearly 200 million livelihoods (Barange and Perry, 2009).