The people of the seas and the seas of the people

Coastal communities are intertwined with the seas from which they derive, not only their sustenance but also various meanings, norms, and values. For these communities, these environments are conceived not as inert spaces, but as places. These places shape their culture and way of living, and anchor their attachment to the physical environment. This chapter aims to move beyond the realm of abstraction in illustrating the entanglement of people and places through several case studies, from South East Asia to the Arctic; collectively describing how communities deal with various threats and challenges in relation to places in coastal and marine contexts. Adopting a place-based approach to understanding the relation of people to their surrounding environments, comprising not only the natural world but also the social-cultural realms, are integral, not only to ensure that individual and collective well-being can be attained, but also to achieve this through sustainable means.