The world’s coastal marine ecosystems are being overlooked, both in terms of their ecological importance and their potential as a rallying point for conservation.

New research suggests increased protections are needed for the first ten metres of depth of the world’s oceans. This portion of the planet holds the richest diversity of marine habitats and animal life and it is where most ocean-related human activity takes place.

In the past century 67% of wetlands, 65% of seagrasses and roughly half of other submerged aquatic vegetation have been lost.

Despite concern for many marine conservation problems, the threats to fragile marine ecosystems are grossly under-appreciated.