Timor-Leste is a small coastal nation in Southeast-Asia. To the north, west, and east lies the Indonesian archipelago. To the south lies Australia, about 300 nautical miles across the Timor Sea. The ocean is closely linked to the history, identity, andcultural heritage of the Timorese people. It was by crossing the ocean that several different ethnic groups from Asia and the South Pacific settled on the island of Timor date back over 44.000 years. Archaeological records show those early communities used shellfish hooks to catch a variety of fish including tuna. Five hundred years ago, it was by sea that the Portuguese arrived in Timor-Leste and irrevocably shaped the future of the nation. The Timorese developed distinct cultural and linguistic traits and became part of the global Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries. This book is a celebration of Timor-Leste's special relationship with the sea, above and below the water surface. It is produced by the Timor-Leste Land and Maritime Boundary Office as part of a campaign to promote the sustainable development of Timor'Leste's marine resources to diversify the nation's economy.