Coastal ecosystems, are regions of remarkable biological productivity and high accessibility. This has made them centers of human activity for millennia. Coastal ecosystems provide a wide array of goods and services: they host the world’s primary ports of commerce; they are the primary producers of fish, shellfish, and seaweed for both human and animal consumption; and they are also a considerable source of fertilizer, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, household products, and construction materials. They also  store and cycle nutrients, filter pollutants from inland freshwater systems, and help to protect shorelines from erosion and storms.