The International Tropical Marine Ecosystem Management Symposium (ITMEMS) is a key activity of ICRI, and takes place once every four years, representing a unique opportunity for coastal and marine managers and stakeholders, including community representatives, to share their day-to-day experiences managing the marine and coastal environment, inform policy decisions at the local and national levels, and influence the global agenda and other international processes.

Convened previously in Australia (1998), the Philippines (2003), and Mexico (2006), ITMEMS strengthens the capacities of coastal and marine managers and their partners to conserve and promote the sustainable use of coral reefs and related ecosystems.