Preface

Abstract

The idea for ECOSEAS was conceived and evolved over a number of meetings between M. Munawar, President of the AEHMS, F. Md. Yusoff, then head of the Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, G. Nagaraj, FanLi Marine and Consultancy Sdn. Bhd., and N. A. M. Shazili, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, amongst several others.The major concern voiced at these meetings was that while little was known of the dynamics of ecosystem health in the tropics, from a regional as well as global perspective, these waters were incredibly important economic assets to the littoral nations that surrounded them, supporting transportation, supplying food, and providing employment. Sustaining hundreds of thousands in marine capture fisheries and marine based recreation alone, tropical marine ecosystems have become a cornerstone of the coastal economies of these countries, making whole communities, and by extension the nations of which they are a part, totally dependent on the health of their respective coastal environments.In addition, the same tropical coastal environments have important ecological values that fundamentally mediate the health of coral reefs, sea grasses and mangroves. Globally endangered animals such as marine turtles and marine mammals also co-habit their coastal waters, while many waterways support rich archaeological grounds.On the other hand, rapid economic development of these nations seriously compromised the ability of these ecosystems to provide goods and services that these communities have depended on, a situation which has arisen due to the lack of understanding of what these systems actually deliver to the communities and populations that depend on them. Thus, sustainability of ecosystem health is not just a biodiversity conservation issue, but is critical to ensure that it can continue to support the economy of coastal and related communities.In cognizance of this, ECOSEAS was advocated as a forum that could bring together research scientists, managers and users to network experience and knowledge in an effort to engender a broad spectrum of activity in tropical coastal environments leading to a comprehensive and holistic approach to its management. The effort was not without its challenges.We are grateful to a great many parties who came forth in support, not the least of which was the National Oceanographic Directorate under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), Malaysia who did not hesitate to underwrite many of the major costs, including printing of this special AEHM issue, which is gratefully acknowledged.The articles presented herein have been selected to reflect the vast spectrum of issues that need to be grappled with where ecosystem health of tropical marine waters is concerned. They are not an end in themselves, but works-in-progress. There is so much that needs to be done, and in the greater scheme of things, so little time to do them. Hopefully, this maiden effort will catalyze the kind of long term imperatives that are necessary.Convenors:F. Md. Yusoff, M. Munawar, G. Nagaraj, and N. A. M. Shazili