The CaribbeanLarge Marine Ecosystem (CLME)

State of the Environment andEcosystems of the Wider Caribbean

César ToroNovember 2012

• WSSD 2002 - to “establish by 2004 a Regular Process under the United Nations for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects, both current and foreseeable, building on existing regional assessments”.

• This was endorsed at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) later in 2002 (resolution 57/141).

• The Ad-hoc Steering Group and then Group of Experts were established by UNGA Resolution 60/30 – fall 2006.

• Work of the Group of Experts commenced in 2007

Call for the Regular Process

Towards a Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment, including Socio-economic Aspects

• 80% of commercial fish stocks are fully or over-exploited

• Pollution by contaminants, nutrients and sediments is widespread

• Critical habitats are being damaged, esp coastal• Climate change causing temperature increases

to 3000 m, with many consequences• Invasive species increasing – major changes to

some systems

Why is a Regular Process Needed?Oceans are under increasing stress:

Towards a Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment, including Socio-economic Aspects

The Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem

Countries & dependent territories CLME

Countries & dependent territories CLME

Table 1. Countries and territories of the CLME

Independent countries Countries and territories Antigua & Barbuda UK:

Bahamas Anguilla

Barbados British Virgin Islands

Belize Cayman Islands

Brazil Montserrat

Colombia Turks & Caicos

Costa Rica

Cuba USA:

Dominica Puerto Rico

Dominican Republic USVI

Grenada

Guatemala France:

Guyana Guadeloupe and St. Bart

Haiti Martinique

Honduras St. Martin

Jamaica French Guiana

Mexico

Nicaragua

Panama Netherlands:

St. Kitts Nevis Aruba

St. Lucia Curacao

St. Vincent & the Grenadines Bonaire

Suriname St. Eustatius

Trinidad & Tobago Saba

Venezuela St. Maarten

1

Bathymetry & geological setting

Connectivity of the habitats with depth

Circulation

The coastal ocean

Institutions that contribute to assessment work in the region

• Research Institutions & Universities• Regional IGOs

– ACS, CAST, CEHI, CIMH, Caribbean Tourism Association, CARICOM CRFM,

OECS, OLDEPESCA & OSPESCA• International IGOs

– ICCAT• UN organizations with regional

bodies – WECAFC of FAO, UNEP Caribbean Environmental Programme, IOCARIBE

of IOC-UNESCO, UN Economic Commission for Latin America &

UNECLAC, UNDP, UNEP for Latin America, Caribbean GEO, GEF

• International NGOs– WWF, TNC, WRI, IUCN, Census of

Marine Life, • Regional organizations

– WIDECAST, GCFI

Association of Marine Laboratories of the Caribbean

Assessments presented in 2009

32

1

1

71

Global y/o global

Jamaica

Guatemala

USA

Guyana

11

97

15 without info file

with info file (*.pdf)

File cited without access

File cited, existing web page .html

4

5

2

5

35

18

Anthropogenic impact

Ocean processes

Protectedd Areas

Fishery

Turtles

Coral reefs

General info

Scale

DocumentationsupportingAssessments

Themes covered

Antes no estaban ahora ya página web en pdfSiguen sin estarValoraciónNúmero de identificaciónEscala: Región: Escala País: Pais Nombre de la Valoración:Acrónimo (tipo de siglas):Referencia completa:Referencia:Reporte de texto completo/sitio URL:Reporte Valoración revisada por algún miembro de la "GoE" Grupo de expertosClasificación/tipo de actividadOrganización: Justificación/contexto de la valoración:Objetivos de la valoración:Estado de la actividad:La valoración es contínuaFecha de inicio:Fecha de finalización:

ID: Scale: Region: Global/Regional:1, Regional:2, Nacional:3Country: Jamaica:1, Guatemala:2, USA:3, Guyana:4Name of Assessment:Acronym: Full Reference:No:0, Si:1Full Text Reports/Output URL:No:0, Si:1, Ubicación no accesible:2, solo sito web:3Assessment reviewed by GoE member:Classification/Type of Activity:Organisation: Justification/Context of the Assessment:Objectives of the Assessment:Status of Activity:Is the assessment repeated:Start Date: Finish Date:1 986 Global/RegionalArctic Ocean,North East Pacific Ocean,North West Atlantic Ocean,Wider Caribbean Region1 - 0 A Framework for Monitoring and Assessing Socioeconomics and Governance of Large Marine Ecosystems - Sutinen. J.G. (2000). A Framework for Monitoring and Assessing Socioeconomics and Governance of Large Marine Ecosystems, NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-158.1 http://www.lme.noaa.gov/LMEWeb/Publications/tm158.pdf1 No Narrow AssessmentNational Oceanographic and Atmospheric AdministrationIn September 1997, NOAA awarded a contract (i.e., #40 ENN F7 00378) to researchers at the University of Rhode Island to develop the conceptual framework for the analysis and monitoring of the large marine ecosystem (LME) modules for socioeconomic activity and governance of LMEs.This report provides a framework for linking the socioeconomic and governance modules with the natural resource science-based LME modules (productivity, fish and fisheries, and pollution and ecosystem health). This report fulfills the terms of the 12-mo contract.Completed No Published 20002 199 Regional Wider Caribbean Region2 - 0 An Atlas of Sea Turtle Nesting Habitat for the Wider Caribbean Region - Wendy, D.; Eckert, K.; Palmer, M.; Kramer, P. 2007. An Atlas of Sea Turtle Nesting Habitat for the Wider Caribbean Region. The Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network and The Nature Conservancy. WIDECAST Technical Report No. 6. Beaufort, North Carolina. 267 pgs.1 http://www.tortuesmarinesguadeloupe.org/downloads/3_Habitats/3a_dow%20et%20al%20(2007)Atlas_Widecast.pdf1 Yes Narrow AssessmentWider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation NetworkTo significantly expand on the understanding of sea turtle habitat use, while at the same time facilitating the creation of operational frameworks to census populations, monitor stock recovery and safeguard habitat. This information can contribute to the regional planning processes? Generate the first standardised and geographically comprehensive spatial database of active sea turtle nesting beaches in the central western Atlantic Ocean; Inform policy-making regarding the protection of critical habitat, in particular nesting habitat, by making population and spatial databases, including information on contemporary threats to sea turtle survival, publicly available in print and electronic formats; Contribute essential species and habitat data to the ecoregional planning processes of international organisations and intergovernmental entities and; Promote implementation of regional agreements that protect sea turtles and their habitat: Convention for the Protection and Development of the Wider Caribbean Region, and the Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea TurtlesCompleted3 197 Regional Wider Caribbean Region2 - 0 Assessment of the Competitiveness of Ecotourism in the Wider Caribbean Region - Assessment of the Competitiveness of Ecotourism in the Wider Caribbean Region1 0 Yes Narrow AssessmentCaribbean Environment ProgrammeThe assessment was a one-off process for the purpose of an international Ministerial meeting (part of the Action Plan of the CEP, approved by the Ninth Meeting of the Monitoring Committee of the Programme held in Kingston in June 1991) to determine the status of ecotourism in the Caribbean.To ascertain the present status of ecotourism in the States and Territories of the region; To clarify the scope of the concept and propose general guidelines for the; appropriate development of ecotourism in the coastal and marine areas of the region; The analysis was aimed at an interpretation of ecotourism in its present form - as it is understood by the national and territorial authorities who were consulted, and to offer some preliminary proposals in this regardCompleted No4 1023 National Wider Caribbean Region3 Jamaica 1 Assessment of the Economic Impacts of Hurricane Gilbert on Coastal and Marine Resources in Jamaica - UNEP (1989). Assessment of the Economic Impacts of Hurricane Gilbert on Coastal and Marien Resources in Jamaica, Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP) Technical Report No. 4 1989.1 http://www.cep.unep.org/publications-and-resources/technical-reports/tr04en.pdf1 No Narrow AssessmentUnited Nations Environment ProgrammeHurricane Gilbert struck Jamaica on 12th September 1988, causing loss of life and considerable property damage. The Government and the scientific community acted quickly to establish several working groups to assess the damage in different sectors of the economy (Anon, 1988a), and to aid repair and recovery. Although working groups were convened with responsibility forThis report is concerned with the first phase of this economic impact assessment, and attempts to provide a framework for the more detailed analyses which are to follow. Furthermore, after critically reviewing the existing information, the report outlines further research that will be necessary to accurately assess the effect's of Hurricane Gilbert on coastal and marine resources.Completed No Published 19895 200 Regional Wider Caribbean Region2 - 0 Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment programAGRRA - 0 http://www.agrra.org/reports/field-reports.html3 Yes Narrow AssessmentThe Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, USThis conclusions at the forum highlighted the inadequacies in the database for evaluating the condition of the world?s reefs (Ginsburg and Glynn, 1994). The Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA) collaboration is therefore designed for small teams of trained observers to quickly collect relatively simple quantitative indicators of the condition and/or abundance of stony corals, benthic algal groups, and commercially important or ecologically significantly reef-associated fishes at specific depth intervals in certain zones of maximum reef development? Create a regional assessment of the health of coral reefs throughout the Western Atlantic; Analyze the results and develop a database so as to establish a practical scale of comparative reef condition; Promote the transfer of this information to a wider audience including the general public, resource managers, government officials, policy makers, tourist operators, and students.In Progress Yes 19976 201 Regional Wider Caribbean Region2 - 0 Caribbean Coastal Marine Productivity ProgrammeCARICOMP - 0 http://www.ima.gov.tt/home/images/stories/caricomp_manual_2001.pdf1 Yes Narrow AssessmentCaribbean Coastal Marine Productivity ProgrammeCARICOMP was launched in response to the need for long-term, region-wide comparative studies of the biodiversity and productivity of Caribbean coastal ecosystems (mangroves, seagrasses and coral reefs) within the COMAR (Coastal Marine) project, established by the general Conference of UNESCO in 1980.? To determine the productivity of coral reefs, mangroves and seagrasses; To determine the dominant influences on coastal productivity; To monitor for ecosystem change; To ultimately, discriminate human disturbance from long-term natural variation in coastal systems over the range of their distribution using standardised methodologiesIn Progress 1993 present7 202 Regional Wider Caribbean Region2 - 0 CARIBBEAN LARGE ECOSYSTEM PROJECT PRELIMINARY TRANSBOUNDARY DIAGNOSTIC ANALYSISCLME TDA - 0 http://cermes.cavehill.uwi.edu/clme_eng.html2 Yes Broad AssessmentIntergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCOThis assessment was initiated at the request of various government agencies. The purpose of the assessment is the identification and agreement of major transboundary living marine resource management issues and their root causes; actions needed to address these constraints, including filling knowledge gaps.The assessment had the general objective of informing future decisions by the governments. The objective was to identify and analyse and agree upon major issues, root causes and actions required to achieve sustainable management of the shared Large Marine Regions in the Caribbean Sea LME in a manner that is consistent with relevant international agreements, e.g. the Law of the Sea, the UN Fish Stocks Agreement.In Progress Yes8 368 Regional Wider Caribbean Region2 - 0 Caribbean Sea Ecosystem AssessmentCARSEA - 0 http://www.thecropperfoundation.org/carsea_upd.htm2 Yes Broad AssessmentThe Cropper FoundationCARSEA sets out a detailed picture of the condition and trends of the ecosystem; it then develops a number of scenarios aiming to simulate the likely outcome of different plausible future paths for the region; and finally reviews the responses available to decision-makers. It applies the same conceptual framework to ecosystems and human communities as the MEA.To monitor and assess the condition of the Caribbean Sea as an ecosystem, and to use that information to inform policy in the region; To assess the effectiveness of existing programmes at all levels, and to offer advice as to how they may be improved and better coordinated; To initiate studies on specific policy options available to decision makers in the region, for example economic policy instruments to enhance the protection of ecosystem functions; To act as a catalyst to achieve better coordination between the disparate institutions whose decisions affect the Caribbean Sea, and to promote greater co-operation with states outside the region, whose activities have an impact on its ecosystem; To provide continuing analysis of the impacts of policies and programmes, so that the correct lessons can be fed back into better design of future measures.Completed No 20069 1019 Regional Wider Caribbean Region2 - 0 Common guidelines and criteria for protected areas in the Wider Caribbean Region: Identification, selection, establishment and management. - UNEP: Common Guidlines and Criteria for Protected Areas in the Wider Caribbean Region: Identification, Selection, Establishment and Management CEP Technical Report No. 37. UNEP Caribbean Environment Programme, Kingston, Jamaica, 19961 http://www.cep.unep.org/pubs/Techreports/tr37en/content.html3 No Narrow AssessmentUnited Nations Environment ProgrammeIn keeping with Recommendations of the First and Second Meetings of the Interim Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (ISTAC) to the SPAW Protocol (Jamaica, 4-8 May 1992 and French Guiana, 3-5 May 1993 respectively) the Secretariat, in co-operation with the relevant governments and organizations, prepared and further revised these guidelines which were adopted by Governments of the Region in 1995. Bearing in mind that protected areas represent one of the most important ways of conserving the biodiversity of the Wider Caribbean Region, and in accordance with Article 21 of the Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) in the Wider Caribbean Region, regarding the establishment of common guidelines and criteria on this matter, the Governments must give due consideration to such guidelines when national conservation policies and strategies are being formulated and updated. This is also of particular relevance to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) which in Article 8 calls forThe following guidelines are not intended to replace the extensive theoretical and methodological information and the national policies of each country that exist on the planning and management of protected areas. Rather, ISTAC is urging the Governments to consider these guidelines as basic tools to be applied according to the natural and socio-political characteristics of each country and in keeping the provisions of Article 7 of the Protocol. Also, the Governments are being encouraged to promote regional exchange of knowledge and expertise with respect to protected areas.Completed No Published 1996

10 987 Global/RegionalArctic Ocean,North East Pacific Ocean,North West Atlantic Ocean,Wider Caribbean Region1 - 0 Emerging Theoretical Basis for Monitoring the Changing States (Health) of Large Marine Ecosystems - Sherman, K. (Eds.) (1993). Emerging Theoretical Basis for Monitoring the Changing States (Health) of Large Marine Ecosystems, NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-F/NEC-100.1 http://www.lme.noaa.gov/LMEWeb/Publications/tm100.pdf1 No Narrow AssessmentNational Oceanographic and Atmospheric AdministrationIn a continuing effort to develop a strategy for monitoring the changing states of large marine ecosystems (LME), a workshop was convened at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, in 11 and 12 July 1992. The workshop was a follow up to the initial workshop held at the National Marine Fisheries Service, Narragansett, Rhode Island, on 23 April 1992.The specific objective of the workshop was to review the state of the art in ecological theory pertinent to how time-series data and information obtained from LMEs could be used to monitor the changing states of ecosystem health. It was hoped that at the conclusion of the workshop, the topic would have been developed far enough to reach a consensus on strategies for linking theory to a supporting field program.Completed No Workshop held July 1992Report published 199311 1022 Regional Wider Caribbean Region2 - 0 Evaluation of projects and activities implemented within the framework of the Caribbean Environment Programme (1988-1991) - UNEP: Evaluation of Projects and Activities Implementated within the Framework of the Caribbean Environment Programme (1988-1991). CEP Technical Report No. 19. UNEP Caribbean Environment Programme, Kingston, 1993.1 http://www.cep.unep.org/publications-and-resources/technical-reports/tr19en.pdf1 No Narrow AssessmentUnited Nations Environment ProgrammeThe Caribbean Environment Programme1 is a broad environmental programme of the 36 States and Territories of the Wider Caribbean region. The Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region, together with the protocols associated with the Convention, constitute the legal framework of the Programme. The Programme is implemented through an Action Plan operated under the authority of the States and Territories participating in the Caribbean Environment Programme. UNEP, through the Regional Coordinating Unit for the Caribbean Environment Programme, provides the secretariat of the Convention and the Action Plan, and the technical coordination for the implementation of the agreed activities. The development and achievements of the Caribbean Environment Programme were analyzed in a document2 covering the period from 1976 to, 1987, i.e. from the initiation of preparatory activities in 1976 which led to the adoption of the Action Plan (Montego Bay, April 1981) and thThe objective of the present document is to provide a concise critical overview of the development of the Caribbean Environment Programme from the beginning of 1988 until the end of 1991, although in some instances it refers also to developments in the first months of 1992. Some thoughts are also given in the document to the possible trends in the future development of the Programme. .Completed Yes 1988 199112 1021 National Wider Caribbean Region3 Guatemala 2 Evaluation of the coastal and marine resources of the Atlantic coast of Guatamala. - Yañez-Arancibia, Alejandro, Zárate Lomelí, David, and Terán Cuevas, Angel. 1994. EPOMEX. CEP Technical Report No. 34. UNEP Caribbean Environment Programme, Kingston, Jamaica. 64 pp.1 http://www.cep.unep.org/publications-and-resources/technical-reports/tr34en.pdf2 No Narrow AssessmentUnited Nations Environment Programme.Tourism is primarily associated with the cultural and archaeological richness of the country and to a lesser extent with its coastal areas (the Pacific in particular). At present, tourism is the number two foreign exchange earner of the country. During 1987-1991 alone, tourism earnings reached 774.7 million dollars (INGUAT, 1992). For this reason, the stimulation and diversification of tourism is an important part of the socio-economic policies defined by the Government of the Republic of Guatemala for the 1991-1996 period. To this end, the Guatemalan Institute of Tourism (INGUAT) designed a plan of action for developing the tourism sector known as the National Plan for Developing Sustainable Tourism. Within this framework, and considering that the Atlantic Coast possess great tourism potential, the Guatamalan Institute of Tourism (INGUAT) decided to prepare an integrated management plan for this coastal area. As part of the studies undertaken in the Atlantic Coast of Guatemala which were aimed at evaluatingEvaluation of the potential and extent of the mangroves and sea grass beds, as well as the causes and degree of environmental degradation of these ecosystems; - Evaluation of the extent and potential of the sea grass beds in the "Golfete", Punta de Manabique, Graciosa Bay and English Canal lakes; - Preliminary evaluation of the condition and potential of primary fishery resources; and - Provide recommendations for the preparation of the integrated management planCompleted No Published 199513 206 Regional Wider Caribbean Region2 - 0 Exploitation, Trade and Management of Marine Turtles in the Lesser Antilles, Central America, Colombia and Venezuela - Exploitation, Trade and Management of Marine Turtles in the Lesser Antilles, Central America, Colombia and Venezuela1 www.widecast.org and at www.traffic.org3 Yes Narrow AssessmentTrade Records Analysis of Flora and Fauna in CommerceThe assessment was undertaken in response to a call for assistance made by participants at the First CITES Wider Caribbean Hawksbill Turtle Dialogue Meeting, held in Mexico City in May 2001. The CITES Hawksbill Dialogue process was initiated and reviewed through deliberations and decisions by the CITES Parties at their biennial meetings and the CITES Standing Committee.As agreed between the CITES Secretariat and TRAFFIC International, the objectives were to: document current legislation governing exploitation, trade and management of marine turtles; document ? and quantify, where possible ? levels of legal and illegal exploitation and trade in marine turtles and their products; document the existence of stockpiles of marine turtle products; document management initiatives and constraints to conservation and management of marine turtles; and provide recommendations for improving management of exploitation and trade in marine turtles at local, national and regional levels, in order to maintain the availability of the marine turtle resource, focus management planning, strengthen conservation initiatives and enhance law enforcement efforts.Completed14 984 Global/RegionalArctic Ocean,North East Pacific Ocean,North West Atlantic Ocean,Wider Caribbean Region1 - 0 Global Applications of the Large Marine Ecosystem Concept 2001-2010 - Sherman, K., Aquarone, M., & S. Adams (2007). Global Applications of the Large Marine Ecosystem Concept 2001-2010, NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-208, June 2007.1 http://www.lme.noaa.gov/LMEWeb/Publications/tm208.pdf1 No Narrow AssessmentNational Oceanographic and Atmospheric AdministrationIn keeping with the 2002 Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) target to protect, restore, and manage the use of coastal and ocean resources through an ecosystem approach by 2010, specific opportunities are highlighted for international collaboration with coastal countries and their LME activities around the margins of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, the 17 Arctic LMEs, and the 23 LMEs in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) region. The expanded scale of activities opens pathways for innovative linkages among the LME projects and the global spatial and temporal extent of GOOS and GEOSS.Part I is an overview of the global LME Program. Part II discusses the actions of UN agencies and NGOs engaged in providing support to 16 GEF-LME Projects. Part III outlines the planned activities of the LME program in relation to GEFsupported LME project initiatives for FY 2007-2010.Completed No 2007 201015 652 Global/RegionalWider Caribbean Region1 - 0 Global International Waters Assessment: Caribbean Islands, GIWA Regional assessement 4GIWA 4 UNEP (2004) Villasol, A. and J. Beltrán. Global International Waters Assessment: Caribbean Islands, GIWA Regional assessement 4. Fortnam, M. and P. Blime (eds.) University of Kalmar, Kalmar, Sweden.1 http://www.unep.org/dewa/giwa/areas/reports/r4/giwa_regional_assessment_r4.pdf1 No Broad AssessmentUnited Nations Development ProgrammeSome governments in the region have begun to realise the importance of the environment; at the regional level, the Caribbean Action Plan was adopted in 1981. The Cartagena Convention, was adopted in 1983 as the legal instrument for the implementation of the Caribbean Action Plan. The governments of the nations and territories of the Wider Caribbean region established the Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP) in support of the Convention and its Protocols.The GIWA assessment evaluated the relative importance of various impacts on the international aquatic systems of the Caribbean Islands region. The environmental and socio-economic impacts were assessed for present and future conditions, and overall impacts and priorities were identified. The transboundary issues of pollution were traced back to their root causes. Policy options were analysed that aim to address the driving issues in order to significantly improve environmental quality and secure the region?s future prosperity.Completed No Published 200416 651 Global/RegionalWider Caribbean Region1 - 0 Global International Waters Assessment: Caribbean Sea/Colombia & Venezuela, Caribbean Sea/Central America & Mexico, GIWA Regional assessment 3b, 3c.GIWA 3b 3c UNEP (2006) Isaza, C.F.A., Sierra-Correa, P.C., Bernal-Velasquez, M., Londoño, L.M. and W. Troncoso. Global International Waters Assessment: Caribbean Sea/Colombia & Venezuela, Caribbean Sea/Central America & Mexico, GIWA Regional assessment 3b, 3c. University of Kalmar, Kalmar, Sweden.1 http://www.unep.org/dewa/giwa/areas/reports/r3bc/giwa_regional_assessment_3bc.pdf1 No Broad AssessmentUnited Nations Environment ProgrammeThe regional environmental legislative regime comprises different international conventions that are related to marine and coastal resources management. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has played a leading role in the establishment of a number of conventions, action plans and protocols including the Caribbean Action Plan and the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment in the Wider Caribbean Region ? the Cartagena Convention ? and its protocols.This report presents the results of the GIWA assessment of the Colombia & Venezuela and Central America & Mexico sub-systems ? located in GIWA region 3, the Caribbean Sea. The regional team identified habitat and community modification as the priority concern of both sub-systems. In the Colombia & Venezuela sub-system, coastal habitats are being degraded by a multitude of issues, particularly land-based sources of pollution. The transboundary ecosystems of the Central America & Mexico sub-system have been severely degraded as a consequence of agricultural and urban expansion, increased pollution loads and unsustainable forestry practices. The past and present status and future prospects of these issues are discussed, and they are traced back to their root causes. Feasible policy options are proposed that target key components identified in the Causal chain analysis in order to minimise future impacts on the transboundary aquatic environment.Completed No Published 200617 650 Global/RegionalWider Caribbean Region1 - 0 Global International Waters Assessment: Caribbean Sea/Small Islands, GIWA Regional assessment 3aGIWA 3a UNEP (2004) Bernal, M.C., Londoño, L.M., Troncoso, W., Sierra-Correa, P.C. and F.A. Arias-Isaza. Global International Waters Assessment: Caribbean Sea/Small Islands, GIWA Regional assessment 3a. University of Kalmar, Kalmar, Sweden.1 http://www.unep.org/dewa/giwa/areas/reports/r3a/giwa_regional_assessment_3a.pdf1 No Broad AssessmentUnited Nations Environment ProgrammeThe environmental legislative regime of this region is comprised of different international conventions that are related to marine and coastal resource management. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has played a leading role in the establishment of a number of conventions, action plans and protocols. This area is particularly vulnerable to human activities owing to the fragility of the island ecosystems and their limited carrying capacities.The GIWA assessment evaluated the relative importance of different impacts on the international aquatic system of the Small Islands subsystem. The environmental and socio-economic impacts were assessed for present and future conditions, and overall impacts and priorities were identified. Policy options are proposed that aim to provide solutions to fundamental issues, in order to enhance the management of the region?s aquatic environment.Completed No Published 200418 29 Regional Wider Caribbean Region2 - 0 Integrated Caribbean Regional Agricultural and Fisheries Development Program - Fisheries ComponentCARIFORUM - 0 0 No IndeterminateCaribbean Regional Fisheries MechanismFinanced by the European Union, this six-year project has been designed to extend to four other Caribbean ACP countries (the Bahamas, Suriname, Haiti and the Dominican Republic) the benefits which the original 12 CARICOM countries have been obtaining fromIn Progress

• 2009 Assessment

Strategy followed

The Caribbean LME 2012 Assessments Scales coverage

Topic coverage

20

18

310

6

3

13

4

Biodiversity

Coral reef

Conservation

Monitoring

Tourism

Climate Change

Anthropogenic

Fisheries

Assessments Topics

The Caribbean 2012 assessments

Objectives for the Assessments

Example:Sampling effort and current knowledge of deep sea

biodiversity in the CLME

Major gaps

• The Assessments of the less developed countries

• The economical, social, linguistic, and cultural diversity in the region

• The Socio-economic assessments and offshore and deep sea themes

• The effect of watershed in coastal ocean

• Stronger link to managers and policy-makers