Past experience and the current status of coastal and marine resource uses are summarised through the examples chosen in order to explain the main constraints to the attainment of sustainability. Crosscutting issues related to the breakdown of traditional management systems for common property resources in the face of increasing commercialisation, privatisation, and external interventions appear to pose general problems. The general experiences of community projects, legislation, and mitigation measures are assessed from the examples chosen. Presents an array of key factors affecting the sustainable use of coastal and marine resources, and emphasizes on a number of factors, including the need to integrate socio-economic components into conservation programmes.