This report provides a summary and an assessment of environmental threats facing the marine environment and its living resources off Namibia. In Section 1, a broad overview of the marine biophysical environment off the coast is given which briefly describes features of the northern Benguela Current, the biological resources and habitat types of the region. A review of the commercial fisheries is also outlined which includes descriptions of the status of stocks. The regional importance of the Benguela Current as a large marine ecosystem is emphasised and an account of some of the fisheries and oceanographic research undertaken in parts of the system is also presented. Marine industries such as diamond mining, offshore oil and gas exploration and exploitation and commercial development at the coast are important activities relating to the marine environment and a short summary of the status of these operations is also discussed and described.