Co‐operation between large‐scale MPAs: successful experiences from the Pacific Ocean

Collaboration among large-scale marine protected areas (LSMPAs) in the Pacific Ocean has proven effective in addressing shared management, governance, and research challenges. These LSMPAs, which cover vast areas (>100,000 km²), share common natural histories, threats, cultural ties, and scientific needs due to their common ancestry. The study highlights successful bilateral agreements, learning exchanges, and joint research, monitoring, and enforcement activities among notable sites such as the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) and others in the region. By leveraging traditional Pacific collaboration models, these LSMPAs have made significant strides toward achieving global conservation targets, despite covering less than 3% of the ocean's area.

Friedlander, A. M., Wagner, D., Gaymer, C. F., Wilhelm, T. ’., Lewis, N., Brooke, S., Kikiloi, K., & Varmer, O. (2016). Co‐operation between large‐scale MPAs: successful experiences from the Pacific Ocean. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 26(S2), 126–141. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.2645