Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission – UNESCO's support for management of Large Marine Ecosystems

Abstract Over the past two decades the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has been a key actor in the global effort to promote sustainable use and management of Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs). Among the Commission's LME initiatives are a global comparative assessment of LMEs under the Transboundary Waters Assessment Programme and the LME: Learning Exchange and Resources Network project, both supported by the Global Environment Facility, and annual meetings of the LME Consultative Committee. A brief description of each of these initiatives is given in this commentary.