A broad perspective on issues related to living marine resources, and their environment and management is presented in this document, following the UN Conference on Environment and Development and the Cancun Conference. It begins with a sectoral discussion of sustainable development of living resources of nearshore and estuarine, semi-closed seas, coastal and shelf waters, the high seas and Antarctic waters. Constraints on harvesting, impacts of marine pollution and potential for further development of resources are addressed. Each section concludes with a discussion of elements that can be included in a resource management programme.