Science for a sustainable marine management

 Seas and oceans have played a pivotal role over the last millennia. Traditionally limited to fisheries and transport, their importance has increased since the Second World War with offshore industries, including aquaculture, windmill farms and tourism. Today, sustainable management of marine areas such as the North Sea, heavily impacted by human activities, is thus a case-in-point of the Blue Growth approach: maintain the balance between developing economic activities and preserving the marine ecosystems.