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The present document is a product of the Group of Experts of the Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment, including Socioeconomic Aspects, which is responsible for the contents of the publication. The members of the Group of Experts and the pool of experts who participated in the writing of the third World Ocean Assessment contributed in their personal capacity. The members of the Group and the pool are not representatives of any Government or any other authority or organization.

The designations employed, including geographical names, and the presentation of the materials in the present publication, including the citations, maps and bibliography, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the United Nations concerning the names and legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries and do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. Information contained in the present publication emanating from actions and decisions taken by States does not imply official endorsement, acceptance or recognition by the United Nations of such actions and decisions, and such information is included without prejudice to the position of any State Member of the United Nations. The present publication does not affect the position of any State Member of the United Nations with regard to any international multilateral agreement.