A new imperative for improving management of large marine ecosystems (2002)
Continued over-fishing in the face of scientific warnings, fishing down food webs, destruction ofhabitat, and accelerated pollution loading—especially nitrogen export—have resulted in significant degradation to coastal and marine ecosystems ofboth rich and poor nations. Fragmentation among institutions, international agencies, and disciplines, lack of cooperation among nations sharing marine ecosystems, and weak national policies, legislation, and enforcement all contribute to the need for a new imperative for adopting ecosystem-based approaches to managing human activities in these systems in order to avoid serious social and economic disruption. The global environment facility (GEF) has been approached by developing countries in overwhelming numbers for assistance in securing the futures of their shared large marine ecosystems (LMEs). This paper describes GEF supported processes being used to assist them in adopting a science-driven, ecosystem-based approach to the management of human activities affecting coastal and marine ecosystems and linked freshwater basins.
A new imperative for improving management of large marine ecosystems (2002).pdf
