The distinctive biophysical characteristics of the Gulf of Mexico Large Marine Ecosystem (GoM LME) make it one of the most productive marine ecosystems in the world and an important global reservoir of biodiversity. However, this high productivity is at risk from a suite of anthropogenic threats that include excessive fishing effort, destruction of critical coastal and marine habitats, and nutrient-enrichment resulting in a "Dead Zone" of over 18,000 km2 that forms every year ­ one of the largest hypoxic zones of water in the world. Additionally, the LME is the focus of extensive oil and gas production as well as a rapidly increasing tourism industry.

Many stocks in the Gulf of Mexico are over fished, or are at (or close to) their maximum yield. Intensive fishing, the primary force driving biomass changes in the GoM LME, is compounded by two other significant factors. Habitat modification, including loss of critical habitats and connectivity, resulting from poorly planned growth in coastal and urban areas along the GoM, coast translates into a trend of urban growth at the expense estuaries, marshes, seagrasses, coral reefs, mangroves and other vital ecotones. According to data from the FAO, in the last 30 years Mexico has lost more than half of its mangrove coverage on both coasts. Depletion and impacts on fish stocks affects both countries given that many stocks are shared, migratory, or connected via egg or larval transport. Loss of habitats impacts on the life cycles of over 90% of GoM coastal and marine species, as does the increasing pollutant and nutrient loads. Economic activities in the GoM are significant for both countries, with 85 % of Mexico´s oil extraction originating in the region as well as 72 % of the U.S. offshore petroleum production.

These growing anthropogenic threats evidence tight interdependencies in terms of causes and effects, and an LME-wide, ecosystem-based management approach is required to effectively mitigate them in the long-term. However, existing management approaches are not consistent with an ecosystem-based perspective and there are currently no agreed bi-national programmes for managing the GoM resources taking into account ecosystem-based requirements. Furthermore, the two countries have institutional frameworks for coastal and marine resources protection, but no effective regional inter-sectoral project coordination mechanism currently exists. In the absence of GEF intervention, fragmented efforts with a national and an often sectoral focus will continue to be the norm.

The proposed GEF alternative will, through a TDA-SAP process, remove identified constraints and barriers, develop common mechanisms and tools, and promote reforms and investments, to set the bases for application of the ecosystem approach in the management of the GoM LME. This will be complemented by discrete capacity-building activities and pilot projects in three critical aspects of the ecosystem approach: productivity, conservation and adaptive management, and robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks, as well as cross-sectoral engagement. The transition towards the ecosystem-based management of the GoM LME will depend on a greater convergence of policy tools including long-term joint programs and actions, a clearer distribution of competencies at all three levels of government, and a robust monitoring and evaluation program. This will require a truly regional GoM initiative supported through a combination of GEF financing and co-financing including a reoriented baseline.

Within this integrated approach, the project will address specific IW Priorities, in particular reduction of nutrient over-enrichment from land-based pollution that creates anoxic "dead" zones in coastal waters, and restoration and maintenance of costal and marine fish stocks and associated biological diversity, complemented by efforts to address degradation of coastal resources and processes. In particular, the "dead zone" that forms every year in the Gulf of Mexico in critical areas for commercial and recreational fisheries will require cross-sectoral, integrated suites of measures and reforms to address this issue as detailed in the IW Strategy. The project will also develop mechanisms and undertake reforms for maintaining fisheries resources to within safe biological limits, and encourage the sustainable use of all exploited living marine resources in the GOM LME. As an OP9 initiative, it emphasizes the multi-focal connections that characterize the system. The project seeks to create a co-operative framework, together with the necessary capacities, thereby enabling Mexico and the U.S. to address both imminent threats to the water body and develop joint ecosystem-based management approaches

The long-term development/environmental goal of the project is the enhanced sustainable development of the Gulf of Mexico LME through ecosystem-based management approaches. The project objective is: to set the foundations for LME-wide ecosystem-based management approaches to rehabilitate marine and coastal ecosystems, recover depleted fish stocks, and reduce nutrient overloading

Project Components

1. Updating the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) and confirmation of priorities.

2. Formulation and adoption of the Strategic Action Program (SAP) and associated National Action Programs (NAPs).

3. Strengthening of the LME wide ecosystem based management approaches through the successful implementation and integration of the Pilot Projects and their results through the GoM LME region.

4. Monitoring and Evaluation System for the Project and the GoM LME under continuous development.

Milestones