This issue of Tropical Coasts considers some of the scenarios being devised and/or implemented in East Asia, and in other regions, as possible solutions to the stresses that are building up in the region's natural infrastructure. Participants to the East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress 2006 considered these matters, and others, within the context of improved paradigms for coastal and ocean governance. The setting for the EAS Congress could not have been more appropriate — the beautiful and bustling coastal city of Haikou, Hainan Province, PR China. More than 800 people from 36 countries attended the five–day event, from 12–16 December 2006, graciously hosted by China's State Oceanic Administration, the Hainan Provincial Government, and the Haikou City Government, and co-organized and sponsored by 45 partner organizations. In this issue, four of the seven themes of the International Conference on Coastal and Ocean Governance: One Ocean, One People, One Vision are reviewed, namely: Securing the Oceans; Safer Shipping and Cleaner Oceans; Certifying Sustainability; and Local Government Financing for Water, Sewage and Sanitation.

This issue is a review of experiences and approaches used thus far to manage shared marine resources in different parts of the world, as well as the developments and new initiatives related to coastal and ocean governance at the regional level. It aims to offer some insights on the elements of successful regional cooperation and on the future directions of the regional ocean governance, thereby supporting the work of the Nippon Foundation Research Task Force on the Dynamics of Regional Cooperation on Oceans and Coasts. The Regional Task Force is composed of experts and heads of organizations that have endeavored to support the strengthened implementation of programmes/initiatives related to ocean governance through the integration of information on good practices and the distillation of basic principles for achieving regional collaboration since 2004.

This issue of the Tropical Coasts adds another layer to the vast and instructive documents and case studies that have since been published regarding natural hazard and disaster management. Albeit very limited in scope, this issue aims to target the coastal management practitioners, who may have inadvertently missed out on the relevance and importance of integrating 'natural hazard thinking' to integrated coastal management (ICM). The articles are grouped into four sections. Towards Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies showcases the articulation of the culture of prevention, safety and mitigation that underpin the goals of the overarching sustainable development principles. Such are envisioned to decrease vulnerabilities, hence increasing the communities' resilience, to disasters and to create a “safer world for all” (Kelman and Abramovitz). Narcise's article underscores the role of the ICM process and framework in integrating hazard management to development planning and coastal management. She opines that there is no need to reinvent the wheel as the "implementation arrangements, processes, tools and applications are already in place and could be expanded to support hazard management considerations." On Post-Tsunami Reconstruction articulates several dimensions of the process of instituting strategies that must encompass not only reconstructing infrastructure but also ensuring protection of biodiversity and rebuilding sustainable livelihoods as well. Datta and Adriaanse, Llewellyn, et al., and Manuta, et al. highlight the principles and the wide-ranging scope and breadth to reconstruct human dignity in the aftermath of the tsunami.

This issue of the Tropical Coasts presents various port management practices, systems and approaches that have been applied in ports as a consequence of increasing pressures and challenges related to compliance with regulatory requirements, concerns about safety, security and health of port workers and environment, and enhancing port efficiency.

This and the December 2004 issue of Tropical Coasts synthesizes the experiences and lessons learned from a decade's worth of integrated coastal management (ICM) practices at PEMSEA sites in East Asia. The stories in this issue show how the ICM programmes were developed and applied in various localities, each with its own unique ecological, socioeconomic, political and cultural aspects. The articles also show how ICM has transformed and evolved into a dynamic and functional mechanism for addressing multiple-use conflicts in coastal lands and seas.

This issue of Tropical Coast, as with the previous July 2004 issue on PEMSEA Experiences in the Evolution of Coastal Management, deals with the experiences and lessons learned from PEMSEA integrated coastal management (ICM) sites in the East Asian region. In particular, this issue highlights how the ICM experiences at national demonstration sites triggered a wider expansion of ICM programs over the region, through the replication of the ICM framework and processes using available local resources and capacity. It also chronicles continuing ICM efforts in facilitating knowledge sharing and networking among local governments, enabling them to become prime movers in achieving sustainable coastal development.

This issue attempts to capture the insights of one of the most dynamic sectors of society: the media and its role in sustainable development. More than just finding and reporting stories for public consumption, the media has a myriad of functions that can further the cause of improving the quality of life. If sustainable development is about changing attitudes, adopting new policies and taking action, then the media has a major role to play.

This issue of Tropical Coasts examines some of the regional arrangements that have been adopted and the lessons learned, as well as the trends in regional cooperation relating to the environment, regional seas and their associated river basins. Some of the featured arrangements are well established while others are relatively new. Beyond the recognition of intergovernmental cooperation as a concept, the aim of this issue is to show some of the practicalities involved in operationalizing the ideals and modalities of regional arrangements.

This issue of Tropical Coasts presents seven articles which look at the status of important species in trade, the nature and magnitude of the threats, some recommended and tested management measures being undertaken to ensure sustainable use of resources, as well as the successes and challenges in enforcing and implementing CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).