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The coastal component of the International Waters Programme (IWP) aims to address root causes of the degradation of international waters in coastal regions by implementing projects on improved coastal and watershed management. It will support action at community level to identify priority environmental concerns (PECs) relating to marine and freshwater quality, habitat and community modification and degradation and unsustainable use of living marine resources. Once a priority environmental concern PEC is identified, IWP will implement a pilot project in each of the participating country in any one of its four focal areas

Pacific island nations have obligations for the conservation and sustainable use of critical marine habitats and species under a number of legally and non-legally binding international instruments. Foremost among these are the Convention on Biological Diversity, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Framework Convention on Climate Change and the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and Apia Conventions. These instruments emphasise the linkages between the protection of the marine environment, sustainable management of coastal and marine resources and human development. It is not possible to consider the conservation and sustainable use of critical marine habitats and species separately from wider social and economic issues