Given the multitude of demands on marine environments, it is vital to build the capacity-- people, institutions, and tools--needed to manage ocean resources. Unfortunately, many efforts focus on specific projects rather than on capacity building as a goal unto itself, resulting in activities that end after the typically short project lifetime. Increasing Capacity for Stewardship of Oceans and Coasts: A Priority for the 21st Century recommends ways to strengthen marine protection and management capacity through sustained emphasis on capacity development.