English,-S.A.; Bradbury,-R.H.; Reichelt,-R.E. Management of large marine ecosystems: A multinational approach. PROCEEDINGS-OF-THE-SIXTH-INTERNATIONAL-CORAL-REEF- SYMPOSIUM,-TOWNSVILLE,-AUSTRALIA,-8th-12th-AUGUST-1988.- VOLUME-2:-CONTRIBUTED-PAPERS-MINI-SYMPOSIUM-1-TO-10-14. Choat,-J.H.;Barnes,-D.;Borowitzka,-M.A.;Coll,- J.C.;Davies,-P.J.;Flood,-P.;et-al.-eds.. 1988. pp. 369- 374. There is now widespread recognition of the need to protect and manage the living resources of the coastal zone. A number of factors have contributed to this attitude, particularly the failure of some large, established fisheries. Since the declaration of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the realization of the importance of natural variability in marine ecosystems, the emphasis has shifted to studies on Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) and the management of their resources using a multispecies approach. The geographic area defined by LMEs is extensive and often demands a multinational approach to this problem of management. The development of a cooperative project being conducted in the ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) region is an example of such an integrated approach to the study and management of coastal resources.