Nearly everyone seems to think that the region's 28 island and coastal nations and their 30 million people could be more prosperous if they worked together.

Like many coastal nations, Iran claims a 12-mile limit.

Their mission is "to ensure the conservation and responsible use of our nation's coastal and ocean resources".

But others lie in the wide zones controlled by coastal nations.

Only the coastal nations had sufficient access to the basic shells to make wampum.

Within this area, the coastal nation has sole exploitation rights over all natural resources.

American energy use is being subsidized by tropical coastal nations, who appear to be global warming's first victims.

Portuguese overseas expansion began in the 15th century, thanks to several factors that gave the small coastal nation an advantage over its larger European neighbors.

There were also persistent rumors that some coastal nations managed to survive the war essentially intact.

He is widely recognized by boxing fans and critics as the greatest fighter ever to come out of this coastal African nation.