East Polynesia ecoregion technical experts workshop 22-24th April 2009, Edgewater resort, Rarotonga, Cook Islands : summary outcomes report

Abstract

LIZ: Page 1 of 15   S U M M A R Y   O U T C O M E S   R E P O R T  EAST POLYNESIA ECOREGION TECHNICAL EXPERTS WORKSHOP 22 – 24 APRIL 2009 EDGEWATER RESORT RAROTONGA, COOK ISLANDS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INTRODUCTION   The East Polynesia Ecoregion (EPE) comprises the islands and waters of the Cook Islands and French Polynesia. It is located at a greater distance from a continent than any other island group in the world. The EPE has a combined EEZ of seven (7) million square kilometres of oceanic and coastal environment exceeding 4,000 marine species including corals, finfish, seaweeds, molluscs, crustaceans, polychaetes, echinoderms, reptiles and cetaceans. To manage the East Polynesia Ecoregion is a multi-jurisdictional responsibility and poses challenges to synthesizing data and management strategies. Identifying and linking the com