Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs), covering large swaths of the world's coasts, contain some of its richest marine biodiversity and provide goods and services to billions of people worth more than US $12 trillion annually. However, these rich coastal seas also face increasing threats from marine pollution, unsustainable fishing and ocean acidification to name a few.
Photo: IUCN Photo Library / © Jason Suwandy
To sustainably manage and conserve these important marine areas -- each encompassing their own unique topography, ocean currents and nutrient-rich food chains, oceanographers and other experts have identified 66 LMEs as a priority for collective action.
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Photo: Olga Titova
Humpback whales and LMEs
Watch the the video on LMEs (below), "Global Partnerships, Global Actions, Global Results," produced by the Global Environment Facility and its partners.
