A/RES/59/24 Conscious that the problems of ocean space are closely interrelated and need to be considered as a whole through an integrated, interdisciplinary and intersectoral approach, Reaffirming the need to improve cooperation and coordination at all levels, in accordance with the Convention, in order to address all aspects of oceans and seas in an integrated manner and to promote the integrated management and sustainable development of the oceans and seas, Recalling the essential role of international cooperation and coordination at all levels to support and supplement the efforts of each State in promoting the implementation and observance of the Convention, including the integrated management and sustainable development of coastal and marine areas, Reiterating the essential need for capacity-building to ensure that all States, especially developing countries, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, are able both to implement the Convention and to benefit from the sustainable development of the oceans and seas, as well as to participate fully in global and regional forums and processes dealing with oceans and law of the sea issues, Recognizing the important role that the competent international organizations have in relation to ocean affairs, in implementing the Convention and in promoting the sustainable development of the oceans and seas, Emphasizing the need to strengthen the ability of competent international organizations to contribute, at the global, regional, subregional and bilateral levels, through cooperation programmes with Governments, to the development of national capacity in marine science and the sustainable management of the oceans and their resources, Recalling that marine science, by improving knowledge, through sustained research efforts and the evaluation of monitoring results, and applying such knowledge to management and decision-making, is important for eradicating poverty, contributing to food security, conserving the world’s marine environment and resources, helping to understand, predict and respond to natural events, and promoting the sustainable development of the oceans and seas, Recalling also its decision to establish a regular process under the United Nations for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects, both current and foreseeable, building on existing regional assessments, in its resolutions 57/141 and 58/240, as recommended by the World Summit on Sustainable Development, 3 noting the work of the International Workshop, held in conjunction with the fifth meeting of the United Nations Openended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (“the Consultative Process”) held from 8 to 11 June 2004, reaffirming its support for this objective, and noting the need for cooperation among all States to this end, Reiterating its concern at the adverse impacts on the marine environment and biodiversity, in particular on vulnerable marine ecosystems, including corals, of human activities, such as overutilization of living marine resources, the use of destructive practices, physical impacts by ships, the introduction of alien invasive _______________ 3 Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August–4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex, para. 36 (b). 2