Extractive industries in coastal and marine zones

Extractive industries in coastal and marine zones have been under way for a long time, albeit with limited planning and safeguards to operate in these sensitive areas. Absence of integrated spatial planning and management strategies for marine resources, informality, limited compliance with environmental legislation by a wide range of stakeholders, and poor coordination between competent authorities, among others, have made extractive industries in many countries one of the main contributors to the progressive deterioration of marine ecosystems and the environment in general. This essay analyses some of the extractive industries with the biggest impact on coastal and marine zones in Peru, followed by a brief discussion on some advances in regulating these activities in Peru, Chile and Mexico and in protecting marine environments.