Governance of Large Marine Ecosystems

Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) encompass extensive oceanic regions defined by shared ecological processes and biogeographical characteristics. Governance of LMEs seeks to sustain their biological productivity, maintain biodiversity and safeguard ecosystem services that underpin food security, coastal livelihoods and climate regulation. Effective governance requires coordination across multiple scales, from global treaties and conventions to regional bodies, national authorities and local stakeholder forums. Foundational legal instruments such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea provide overarching principles, while regional sea conventions and the Global Environment Facility’s Large Marine Ecosystem programme furnish practical frameworks for transboundary cooperation. Tools such as ecosystem-based management, marine spatial planning and strategic environmental assessments enable integrated decision-making, yet are frequently challenged by jurisdictional overlaps, uneven institutional capacity and competing resource demands. Adaptive governance models emphasise iterative learning, stakeholder engagement and science-policy interfaces to address emerging pressures, including pollution, overexploitation and climate-driven change. The interplay of national interests, economic development imperatives and equity considerations further complicates the alignment of policy objectives. Nevertheless, successful examples demonstrate that inclusive processes—combining rigorous diagnostics, strategic action planning and continuous monitoring—can build trust and foster shared stewardship. Regional case studies, such as eutrophication management in the Baltic Sea and stakeholder dialogues in the Caribbean, illustrate the value of tailored governance architectures that reflect ecological, socioeconomic and cultural contexts. These efforts underscore the need for transparent institutional arrangements, capacity building and adaptive financing mechanisms to translate scientific insight into effective policy interventions. As such, governance of LMEs exemplifies the broader transition towards integrated ocean management and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14 on life below water.

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Governance of Large Marine Ecosystems publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in governance of large marine ecosystems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Large Marine Ecosystem (LME): A geographically distinct marine region characterised by common ecological processes and shared resources, often spanning multiple jurisdictions.

Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis–Strategic Action Programme (TDA–SAP): A formal, science-based framework for assessing transboundary environmental issues and guiding cooperative strategic planning among neighbouring states.

Ecosystem-based management: An integrated approach that considers entire ecosystems, including human activities, to maintain ecological integrity and sustainable resource use.

References

1. Finding equitable solutions to the land-based sources of marine plastic pollution: Sovereignty as a double-edged sword. Marine Policy (2024).
2. Selection and Application of Bohai Sea Environmental Governance Policy Instrumental: A Quantitative Analysis Based on Policy Text (1996–2022). Sustainability (2023).
3. Navigating the Complexity of Regional Ocean Governance Through the Large Marine Ecosystems Approach. Frontiers in Marine Science (2021).
4. The Governance of the Mitigation of the Baltic Sea Eutrophication: Exploring the Challenges of the Formal Governing System. Ambio (2014).
5. Advancing Ocean Governance in Marine Regions Through Stakeholder Dialogue Processes. Frontiers in Marine Science (2021).