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The Regional Seas Programme was initiated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 1974 in response to the selection of the oceans as a priority area by the UNEP Governing Council. It is a global programme implemented through regional components under the guidance of the Oceans and Coastal Areas Programme Activity Centre at UNEP headquarters in Nairobi. Each regional action plan is formulated by the Governments concerned to respond to the needs of the region for a comprehensive approach to controlling both the consequences and the causes of environmental degradation through the management of marine and coastal areas. Action-oriented programme activities are generally supported by regional legal agreements.