This report presents the GIWA assessment of the Humboldt Current region, located along western South America, stretching from the Ecuadorian-Colombian border to the south of Chile. The world's largest upwelling area, supporting highly productive fisheries, is located within the boundaries of the region. The economy of the region is primarily based on fisheries, agriculture, oil-related industry, mining and maritime transport. As a result of the activities of these sectors pollution has come to constitute the major environmental and socio-economic concern in the region, followed by unsustainable exploitation of fish and other living resources. In the report the past and present status as well as future prospects of these concerns are discussed and subsequently traced back to their root causes. Policy options to mitigate these problems are proposed and aim to provide solutions to these fundamental issues in order to enhance the management of the regions aquatic environment.--Publisher's description.

Despite the central role oceans play in the economic, environmental and social affairs of the planet's 6.7 billion inhabitants, significant gaps exist in our understanding and management of the complex processes at work from the global climate system, to the water cycle and circulation of nutrients, to changes affecting marine habitats. In addition, the vastness of the world's oceans have for far too long been perceived as impervious and indestructible to human impact. To deal with this situation, improved monitoring and observation practices, regular assessments to provide a deeper understanding of the status and trends of environmental changes, and the know-how and ability to prevent, mitigate and adapt to these changes are urgently required. The UN General Assembly in 2005 -- recommended that a regular process for the global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment, including its socio-economic aspects (Regular Process), be initiated. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO) were asked to serve as the lead agencies in the start-up phase that came to be known as the "Assessment of Assessments" (AoA). Under the AoA, an Expert Group have developed options and a framework for such a Regular Process, which can serve as the mechanism to keep the world's oceans and seas under continuing review.

The "Assessment of Assessments" (AoA) is a start-up phase of a regular process for global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment including socio-economic aspects. AoA represents the most comprehensive initiative undertaken to date by the UN system to better coordinate ocean governance. Its central recommendation calls for a mechanism that builds on existing global, regional and national institutions and processes while integrating all available information, including socio-economic data, on how our seas and oceans are actually being used.--Publisher's description.