Many people in Western Asia live along the coast, often because major industries are located in that area.

In some parts of the region, the coastal population density is extremely high.  In Kuwait, for example, there are 5,700 people per square kilometer in the coastal regions.

Fishing and oil production are two of the leading industries in Western Asia.  Natural resources such as fossil fuels are key to the region's economy, and essential for its development.

Tourism is another major industry in the region, providing a large amount of its income.  Many other industries also choose to locate themselves near the coastal areas, often at great cost to the local marine environments.

Oil pollution arises from oil spills, broken or leaking pipelines, and dumping sludge in the ocean.  Every year, 1.2 million barrels of oil are dumped into the Persian Gulf.  The Persian Gulf ecosystem is easily damaged by oil spills, because the oil persists for a long time.

17% of all oil pollution in the world goes into the Mediterranean Sea.  The Red Sea receives as much or more oil pollution than anywhere in the world, and the Persian Gulf receives billions of tons of waste every year.

Though the fishing industry remains highly important to the region, catches are decreasing as the fish population is destroyed.  Excessive fishing levels, coastal development, waste, and water pollution are all responsible for the decreased fish populations.