The main challenges for coastal developing countries include: 1) limited capacity by national stakeholders to identify and harness opportunities arising from sustainable ocean-based sectors; 2) lack of shared vision, coordination mechanisms and cooperation among stakeholders; 3) elusive trade opportunities for ocean-based sectors due to significant trade barriers including high tariffs and tariff peaks, complex non-tariff measures, and private standards relevant to products and services in ocean-based economic sectors; 4) overall, limited legal and institutional frameworks for the sustainable governance of oceans in accordance with the international legal framework for oceans set out in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and applicable related instruments. Additionally, these opportunities may be hindered by limited resilience and adaptation capacities to climate change related events. This project aims at supporting coastal developing countries, and particularly SIDS, in realizing economic benefits from the sustainable use of marine resources and understanding the legal and institutional frameworks underpinning such potential. It will further assist coastal developing countries and key stakeholders in promoting the sustainable trade of products and services in ocean-based economic sectors by analyzing, elaborating and adopting evidence-based and policy-coherent Oceans Economy and Trade Strategies (OETS) and enhancing national implementing capacities.