Richard N. Muallil

C. The Need for Institutional Networking in Integrated Coastal Management: Interconnectivity among Coral Reefs, Seagrass Beds and Mangroves

!e Philippines is an archipelagic country where millions of inhabitants are, in one way or another, dependent on the sheries and ecosystem services provided by coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangroves. However, these valuable resources are being threatened by issues such as coastal development, overshing, destructive shing, sedimentation and pollution, which are widespread in the country. Coastal sheries all over the country have been drastically declining especially over the last few decades because of overshing and irresponsible coastal development activities, which are further exacerbated by climate change impacts (Muallil et al. 2014). !e deteriorating conditions of coastal ecosystems will have serious implications on food security, poverty and the overall well-being of millions of coastal inhabitants in the country.