Because LMEs are bounded by ocean features and are globally linked, management of human activities needs to occur in an integrated fashion across political boundaries and economic sectors (e.g. fishing, shipping, energy, tourism, and mining.) This represents a new type of management approached - shifting from single sector-based to multi-sector assessment and management within the spatial domain of the world's 66 Large Marine Ecosystems. There is global high-level support for this new approach and in this course, we will introduce the concepts and tools for assessing and managing LMEs.

Together, leaders and experts in a global movement to recover and sustain the goods and services of LMEs will introduce you to the mechanisms used for assessment (Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis), planning and implementation (Strategic Action Programme). Based on recent activities in implementation and practice of the LME approach in 22 projects around the globe, we will showcase examples of effective management at this scale, and highlight the challenges and issues. By the end of the online course, we hope you will be able to actively use this knowledge to advance sustainable development of the world’s oceans.

Offered By

UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION (NOAA)
IW:LEARN
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY (GEF)
UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (UNDP-THE GEF)
UNESCO-IOC
UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

WEEK 1
What is the Large Marine Ecosystem Approach?
Introducing the Large Marine Ecosystem approach, ecosystem based management principles, and the five modules. There are three topics
covered in this first week - ecosystem-based management, the concept of Large Marine Ecosystems, and the 5-module approach... 
8 videos (Total 37 min), 8 readings, 4 quizzes

WEEK 2
The Three Natural Science Modules
In this week, we deal with the three natural science modules within the five module approach.
7 videos (Total 33 min), 8 readings, 4 quizzes

WEEK 3
The Two Human Dimension Modules
We move onto the two human dimensions of the five module approach.
5 videos (Total 19 min), 5 readings, 4 quizzes

WEEK 4
4 hours to complete
Tools and Actions: the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis and the Strategic Action Programme
This is the heart of the course - delving into the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) and Strategic Action Programme (SAP).
6 videos (Total 23 min), 4 readings, 3 quizzes

WEEK 5
Implementing transboundary marine Ecosystem-based management (EBM)
Moving into the application of the approaches and the tools we have been discussing - with a description of how LME projects are
implemented.
6 videos (Total 26 min), 4 readings, 4 quizzes

WEEK 6
Taking it home: Examples of best practice
We have included a number of case studies of LMEs, inviting marine ecosystem managers and scientists from across our network to describe
their work in implementing EBM.
9 videos (Total 65 min), 10 readings, 1 quiz