Continental shelf defined by 200 meters isobath, extracted from the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO) Digital Atlas - Centenary Edition.

Large Marine Ecosystems are regions of ocean space encompassing coastal areas from river basins and estuaries to the seaward boundaries of continental shelves and the outer margins of the major current systems. They are relatively large regions on the order of 200,000 km2 or greater, characterized by distinct: (1) bathymetry, (2) hydrography, (3) productivity, and (4) trophically dependent populations. On a global scale, 64 LMEs produce 95 percent of the world's annual marine fishery biomass yields. Within their waters, most of the global ocean pollution, overexploitation, and coastal habitat alteration occur. For 33 of the 64 LMES, studies have been conducted of the principal driving forces affecting changes in biomass yields. They have been peer- reviewed and published in ten volumes (http://www.lme.noaa.gov). Based on lessons learned from the LME case studies, a five module strategy has been developed to provide science-based information for the monitoring, assessment, and management of LMES. The modules are focused on LME: (1) productivity, (2) fish and fisheries, (3) pollution and health, (4) socioeconomics, and (5) governance.

Geographic reference for Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA) documents.

The main sources of information for the species distribution are the habitat description and geographic range contained in the published FAO Catalogues of Species (more details at http://www.fao.org/fishery/fishfinder ). Terms used in the descriptive context of the FAO Catalogues were converted in standard depth, geographic and ecological regions and inserted into a Geographic Information System.

The main sources of information for the species distribution are the habitat description and geographic range contained in the published FAO Catalogues of Species (more details at http://www.fao.org/fishery/fishfinder ). Terms used in the descriptive context of the FAO Catalogues were converted in standard depth, geographic and ecological regions and inserted into a Geographic Information System.

The FAO major fishing areas for statistical purpose are defined by the CWP handbook of fishery statistical standards available at http://www.fao.org/fishery/cwp/handbook/h/en

The FAO major fishing areas for statistical purpose are defined by the CWP handbook of fishery statistical standards available at http://www.fao.org/fishery/cwp/handbook/h/en

The main sources of information for the species distribution are the habitat description and geographic range contained in the published FAO Catalogues of Species (more details at http://www.fao.org/fishery/fishfinder ). Terms used in the descriptive context of the FAO Catalogues were converted in standard depth, geographic and ecological regions and inserted into a Geographic Information System.

The main sources of information for the species distribution are the habitat description and geographic range contained in the published FAO Catalogues of Species (more details at http://www.fao.org/fishery/fishfinder ). Terms used in the descriptive context of the FAO Catalogues were converted in standard depth, geographic and ecological regions and inserted into a Geographic Information System.

The main sources of information for the species distribution are the habitat description and geographic range contained in the published FAO Catalogues of Species (more details at http://www.fao.org/fishery/fishfinder ). Terms used in the descriptive context of the FAO Catalogues were converted in standard depth, geographic and ecological regions and inserted into a Geographic Information System.