The so-called "blue economy" of ocean-related business and activity is expanding rapidly. The blue economy must be sustainable. It must not come at the expense of the ocean and marine ecosystems. But it has been widely documented that the global marine environment and its resources are being over-exploited at an ever-increasing rate and scale. Growth in this sector – blue growth – must be balanced and sustainable. It has to be set against the oceans' capacity to remain healthy and diverse in the long term. It is a delicate balance – and an important part of IMO's role is to ensure that shipping and the maritime sector as a whole continue to make their contribution to global trade and development in a sustainable way.