Strategic Action Program for the Sustainable Management of the Shared Living Marine Resources of The Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystems (CLME+ Sap).

The CLME+ Strategic Action Programme was finalized on April 26, 2013, with ministerial endorsements extending to September 4, 2013. The SAP covers the Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystems (CLME+). The SAP outlines a 10-year implementation period aimed at sustainable management of marine resources.
The long-term Ecosystem Quality objective of the SAP is to enhance the health of reef, continental shelf, and pelagic ecosystems. The optimization of these systems' contributions is meant to contribute to societal well-being and to the region's development. The Ecosystem Quality Objectives include:(i) Conservation, protection, and/or restoration of the fish stocks and biodiversity of the pelagic ecosystem;(ii) Restoration and maintenance of the fish stocks at a sustainable level and adoption of responsible fishing operations and fisheries management practices;(iii) Safeguarding the habitats and community structure of the ecosystems from harmful impacts (including those caused by fisheries and pollution) that would diminish the contributions of these systems for enhancing livelihoods and human well-being;(iv) Contributions to human well-being, socio-economic development, food security, and enhanced livelihoods from goods and services provided by the ecosystems are optimized.The action plan is designed along two strategic directions:SD1: Establishment and implementation of coordinated and cost-effective fisheries governance and inter-sectoral management arrangements that are broadly supported, based on adequate consultation, using the best scientific evidence available, and equipped to implement the precautionary and ecosystem approaches to fisheries. SD2: Establishment and implementation of coordinated and cost-effective governance and inter-sectoral planning and management arrangements that are broadly supported, based on adequate consultation, using the best scientific evidence available, and safeguard the health of the marine environment in the CLME+. The SAP aims to address three primary transboundary problems: (i) unsustainable fisheries; (ii) habitat degradation and community modification; (iii) pollution.
The text is composed of four chapters and nine annexes. The first, introductory chapter delves into the three ecosystem types—reefs, pelagic, and continental shelf—as well as the three cross-cutting key transboundary problems mentioned earlier. The second chapter outlines the long-term vision, objectives, and strategic decisions. The third chapter is dedicated to implementation through a programmatic approach, encompassing both regional and national levels, and details financial mechanisms. The fourth chapter addresses the monitoring and evaluation of the programme.