Rich and poor countries alike have felt the effects of unbridled development undertaken without concern for the marine environment. The results have included shrinking fisheries, crowding of the coasts, and destruction of irreplaceable wildlife habitats in the name of economic growth.

Major threats common to all the Regional Seas, although of varied severity and impact, can be categorized as

Pollution, both land and sea-based
Overexploitation, including destructive fishery practices
Physical alteration, including erosion and sedimentation
Invasive species, primarily from ships' ballast
Global change, particularly climate change and sea-level rise