Large Marine Ecosystems are regions of ocean space encompassing coastal areas from river basins and estuaries to the seaward boundaries of continental shelves and the outer margins of the major current systems. They are relatively large regions on the order of 200,000 km2 or greater, characterized by distinct: (1) bathymetry, (2) hydrography, (3) productivity, and (4) trophically dependent populations. On a global scale, 64 LMEs produce 95 percent of the world's annual marine fishery biomass yields. Within their waters, most of the global ocean pollution, overexploitation, and coastal habitat alteration occur. For 33 of the 64 LMES, studies have been conducted of the principal driving forces affecting changes in biomass yields. They have been peer- reviewed and published in ten volumes (http://www.lme.noaa.gov). Based on lessons learned from the LME case studies, a five module strategy has been developed to provide science-...

A Large Marine Ecosystems strategy for the assessment and management of international coastal waters. This revised version of LME, provided by the LME Pro...

A GLOBAL EFFORT is underway by the World Conservation Union (IUCN), the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC), other United Nations agen...