Mangrove forests and salt marshes provide food and a home for fish, shellfish, wildfowl and mammals. Ducks, geese and other wild birds stop over at coastal wetlands during migration. Flounder and bluefish use the marshes as nurseries, winter quarters and occasional feeding grounds.

Mangroves are shrubs and trees of the intertidal and supratidal zone. Tropical mangroves shelter many bird and mammal species, offering nursery and breeding grounds for freshwater and marine life, especially shrimp. Although they are widespread, there areespecially well-developed on the western coasta of the Americas and Africa. There are two main centres of diversity: the eastern group of the Indo-Pacific (the most species-rich), and the western group centred around the Caribbean but also including the west coast of Africa and the Americas.

In spite of their value and productivity, coastal wetlands are favourite sites for dredge and fill operations by industry, farmers and home builders. Refineries and power stations compete for access to the sea. Mangroves are torn up to provide fire wood in many regions. Productive wetlands become busy marinas.

Efforts to protect mangrove areas, salt marshes and seagrass beds are under way in the Regional Seas, through programmes of Integrated Coastal Zone Management and establishment of Specially-Protected Areas.