This Workshop, made possible by a grant from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to the International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management (ICLARM), brought together resource researchers and managers to examine the management of coastal fish stocks and existing resource databases in South and Southeast Asia. The results of the Workshop, documented in this volume, highlight the severe problems related to the management of coastal fish stocks throughout the region. All countries recognize that it is time to remedy these problems and that solutions require multiple action. During the Workshop it became clear that effec-tive and broad-based action plans must be developed and adopted by the participating countries to deal with the problems identified. National capabilities in all aspects of coastal resources management should be strengthened to provide a base for formulating national policies, strategies and programs of action for the management and sustainable utilization of coastal fish stocks. Information on the state of the resources and the environment are at the core of management plannning.