The Gulf of Mexico Large Marine Ecosystem (GoM-LME) is shared by Cuba, Mexico and the United States. It is one of the most productive marine ecosystems in the world, and important global reservoir of biodiversity. However, this high productivity is at risk from a range of anthropogenic threats that include excessive fishing, destruction of critical coastal and marine habitats, and nutrient overenrichment resulting in one of the largest hypoxic zones in the world. Additionally, many fishing stocks are over-fished, or are close to their maximum yield.

Objective

To set the foundations for LME-wide ecosystem-based management approaches to rehabilitate marine and coastal ecosystems, recover depleted fish stocks, and reduce pollution and nutrient overloading.