International cooperation to facilitate such national action generally is most effective and efficient at the regional or sub-regional level. Approaches must address real world solutions to the impediments to action to sustain the marine environment. At the same time, regional approaches are the most practical. Efforts to improve scientific assessments of oceans must reach out to scientists from all countries to encourage a diversity of views and experiences. The marine science community is not large.
Many experts work for governments or academic institutions.
We need to make every effort to build on existing capabilities and not overburden this community's ability to respond.