LMEs (large marine ecosystems) are being subjected to increasing stresses caused by many factors, including growing demand for fish and other renewable resources, coastal zone damage, river basin runoff, and dumping of wastes from a plethora of sources, including fallout from aerosol contaminants. The symposium reviewed the studies of the Somalia Current LME in relationship to the overall strategy for a multinational international programme aimed at advancing stronger linkages between marine science and its application to the management of marine resources from an ecosystems perspective.