The present document provides a summary of the discussions and information emanating from the fifth regional Workshop of the first round of workshops in support of the second cycle of the Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment, including Socioeconomic Aspects (Regular Process), covering the region of the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and the ROPME/RECOFI area (Regional Organisation for Protection of the Marine Environment/Regional Commission for Fisheries). The Workshop was held in Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania, from 14 to 15 December 2017.