Highlights of the most significant conclusions aim to bring out: (a) The way in which the assessment has been carried out; (b) Overall assessment of the scale of human impact on the oceans and the overall value of the oceans to humans; (c) The main threats to the marine environment and human economic and social well-being; (d) The needs for capacity-building and effective approaches to meeting such needs; and(e) The most serious gaps in knowledge and possible ways of filling them.