It was launched at the First Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity, held in the Bahamas in December 1994, and subsequently announced at the high level segment of the Intersessional Meeting of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development in April 1995.
[2] The "Call to Action" was renewed in 1998 at the first International Tropical Marine Ecosystems Management Symposium held in Townsville, Australia and endorsed by over 300 delegates from 49 nations.
The Framework also requires the commitment to coastal management, especially with the involvement of local communities, and the participation in crucial examination and analysis to sustain and protect coral reefs on a widespread capacity.
The ICRI has noted the deficiency of recognizing the extensive help the scientific community around the globe has contributed to protecting coral reefs.
The Secretariat has been hosted by the following Nations: The governing body of ICRI is its General Meetings, held at least annually and where members can adopt decision, resolutions and recommendations on specific topics.
UNCLOS has been designed for widespread access across the globe and a great number of the articles are committed to the safeguarding of marine environments.