Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Workshop IV Report on Large Marine Ecosystems

The fourth APEC Workshop on Marine Ecosystem Assessment and Management was held by the Ansan, Korea on 12-13 August 2013. The three previous workshops were held in Qingdao (2007), and Seoul (2009 and 2012). The workshop participants represented 13 countries from the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Region, including Korea, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Peru, Mexico, Chile, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand, the USA and Canada.

The 27 Large Marine Ecosystems of the APEC Region make a major contribution in marine ecosystem goods and services to the APEC economy. Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) 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 major current systems. LMEs are designated based on unique ecological criteria including bathymetry, hydrography, productivity and trophic linkages. The LME assessment and management approach is based on five modules focused on ocean productivity, fish and fisheries, pollution and ecosystem health, socioeconomic conditions, and governance, for recovering and sustaining marine goods and services.

Healthy ecosystems sustain fisheries, maintain critical habitats, and provide a safe and adequate supply of seafood for domestic use and international trade. The LME approach focuses on ecosystem resources and services to advance and sustain economic benefits for APEC countries.

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