Abstract
The coastal systems traditionally play important ecological and socioeconomic functions by providing goods and services, contributing to food security, rural stability, coastal urbanization and economic prosperity. These functions, however, are being impaired by indiscriminate human activities. A paradigm shift in the way of managing the coastal area is recommended by moving from single to integrated management and coordinated approach, from centrally command-and-control system to people participation and from two-tiered to multi-tiered approach. A regional environmental governance, as embodied in the Environmental Strategy for the Seas of East Asia, serves as a guide-post for effective environmental management.
