1. Meeting Outcomes
“Building International Partnership To Enhance Science Based Ecosystem Approaches In Support Of Regional Ocean Governance”
27-28 November 2017
Cape Town, South Africa
-GEF LME:LEARN (a project financed by GEF, implemented by UNDP, executed by IOC-UNESCO) supported, with partners FAO, UNE, UNDP, IOC-UNESCO and GEF, the organization and financing of the meeting “Building International Partnership To Enhance Science Based Ecosystem Approaches In Support Of Regional Ocean Governance”
-Meeting occurred under a project activity to focus on science to management linkages
-The 2017 United Nations Ocean Conference in New York concluded with the adoption of a Call for Action. This included the requirement to take actions to strengthen cooperation and coordination amongst international, regional and sub-regional organizations, and to promote multi-stakeholder partnerships in order to better address and deliver on Sustainable Development Goal 14.
-SDG 14 clearly needs cooperative and collaborative partnerships across all sectors and across all UN agencies/bodies involved in ocean management and governance and in sustainable development if it is to achieve its targets.

2. Key players in ocean management came together to build further regional collaboration for ocean governance
150 participants from over 50 countries and large marine ecosystem projects, regional fisheries management organization & bodies and regional seas
UN agencies, international organizations, the private sector, NGOs, national ministries and academia
-the meeting brought together key players at the global and regional levels, constituting stakeholders of work being done in large marine ecosystems, regional seas programs and regional fisheries bodies or management organizations

3. 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
Goal of the Meeting
To enhance cross-sectoral, science based ecosystem approaches to regional ocean governance in the implementation of the
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
-Goal of the meeting was to To enhance cross-sectoral, science based ecosystem approaches to regional ocean governance in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
-Various fora and meetings over recent years have recognised the linkages between ecosystem management and socioeconomic development and its is clear that the overall concept and delivery of sustainable development cannot be disassociated from the ecosystem approach and requires an integrated and coordinate effort on the part of the various UN agencies and bodies in order to deliver on their responsibilities in relation to UNCLOS, the Aichi Targets and the Sustainable Development Goals, include SDG14.
-It is because of the multitude of mandates and responsibilities within these agreements (UNCLOS, Aichi and the SDGs) that makes it both logical and vital that the various UN bodies dealing with sustainable development issues and sustainable ocean management should cooperate and coordinate much more closely than they have been in the past.
-lack of coordination between various formal agencies with regional mandates within the Large Marine Ecosystem management boundaries has been recognised as a significant drawback and constraint to delivering a comprehensive cross-sectoral Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis and to the development of Strategic Action Programmes for LMEs and their subsequent implementation. Large Marine Ecosystems and Sustainable Development. A Review of Strategic Management Processes and Goals.

4. Objectives of the Meeting
• To strengthen regional governance mechanisms
• To share examples of best practices
• To propose regional partnerships
• Identify modalities to apply science-based ecosystem approaches at regional level
• Describe how regional institutions and projects are utilizing science and how they can support countries to implement ecosystem approaches that will contribute to the
2030 Agenda.
• To strengthen regional governance mechanisms through enhanced collaboration between Large Marine Ecosystem (LME) programmes, Regional Seas Programmes and Regional Fisheries Bodies
• To share examples of best practices of existing collaboration
• To propose regional partnerships that build on existing initiatives to strengthen regional ocean science and governance
• Identify modalities to apply science-based ecosystem approaches at regional level in support of improved ocean governance
• Describe how regional institutions and projects are utilizing science and how they can support countries to implement ecosystem approaches that will contribute to the 2030 Agenda and associated Sustainable Development Goals (targets and indicators).

5. Key Outcomes of the Meeting
1. Role of science as ‘the best collaborative point’
2. Reaffirmed the Ecosystem Approach
3. Emphasized need for Capacity development
4. Make use of best existing practices and respect existing mandates
5. Importance of interregional collaboration
6. Cross-sectoral information and knowledge-sharing
7. Establish an information-sharing platform
8. GEF LME:LEARN support
9. A regional meta-database
1. The meeting reviewed numerous instruments and mechanisms for ocean governance implemented by various organizations, and highlighted the role of science as ‘the best collaborative point’ to establish connectivity for regional ocean governance.
2. It was noted that the Ecosystem Approach is an essential condition for the continued long-term collaboration in regional ocean governance, and that continuing and strengthening collaboration is needed.
3. Capacity development, including institutional strengthening, is needed for implementing the Ecosystem Approach.
Interactions among relevant stakeholders to make use of best existing practices and respect existing mandates.
5. The meeting recognized the importance of interregional collaboration for sharing lessons learned/experience and to create synergy among regional initiatives.
6. The opportunities for collaboration in regional ocean governance should begin with cross-sectoral information and knowledge-sharing, discussion forums, and other actions that contribute to achieving improved ecosystem-based management.
7. An information-sharing platform should be established, which would assist in engaging stakeholders to improve regional ocean governance. This platform should help build up trust among regional ocean governance stakeholders
8. GEF LME:LEARN is willing to assist in building the information-sharing platform. To that end, a common structure of the platform should be developed, a specific website should be established, and current mechanisms and tools should be utilised.
9. A regional meta-database should be developed containing information on existing data sets, scientist directories using IOC’s Ocean Expert, information about institutions acting in the regions, existing projects and programmes, etc. The meta-database could be part of the information-sharing platform.