Regional Policy and Governance Assessment for the Agulhas and Somali Current Large Marine Ecosystems (ASCLME) Region - Final Draft

Part A of this report examines the full range of regional environmental and resource management organizations in the Western Indian Ocean, outlining their competences and main areas of operation. It then looks at the range of environmental and resource management projects which are being, or have recently been, funded in the region, assessing their key objectives and outputs. It also looks at the range of political and economic agreements in the Southern Africa and Western Indian Ocean regions and their degrees of legal competence in relation to issues which would be necessary components of an ecosystem approach natural resource management in the Agulhas and Somali Currents LMEs. The report demonstrates the range of collaboration that already exists within the region through the very large number and variety of international treaty arrangements, externally funded development projects and political organizations. Not surprisingly, the national studies were not able to identify additional important ecosystem linkages – as this section indicates the regional collaborative agenda is already very full.

Part B reviews the current situation regarding international l and international agreements which are of relevance to the management and governance of ‘areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ). It starts with a brief review of the issues of management of ABNJ globally and then looks at the situation in the Indian Ocean. It outlines the key international organizations at a global level with necessary competences and then also at the regional situation, It also highlights the development at global level of two highly relevant concepts for ABNJ conservation – the Vulnerable Marine Ecosystem (VME) classification developed by the UN and FAO and the Ecologically and Biologically Significant Area (EBSA) developed by the Convention on Biological Diversity. Both represent efforts by the international community to address ecosystem threats in ABNJ.

Part C. The report concludes with an assessment of possible scenarios for an LME-based approach to a regional governance strategy.