Combatting the Threats to Large Scale Marine Protected Areas: How International Partnerships Can Ensure the Success of the Palau National Marine Sanctuary

Abstract

In October 2015, President Tommy E. Remengesau Jr. of the Republic of Palau signed the Palau National Marine Sanctuary Act that established 80% of the nation’s Exclusive Economic Zone as a marine protected area (MPA). At the time of signature, the Palau National Marine Sanctuary (PNMS) was the sixth-largest MPA in the world at 500,000 km2 and a continuation of Palau’s international leadership in conservation efforts with other examples being the establishment of the world’s first shark sanctuary in 2009 (Horstmeyer, 2016). The goals of the PNMS are to promote healthy ocean populations and ecosystems, food security, and sustainable development while the main threat to these goals is Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated fishing (IUU). This project will apply the theory of change to demonstrate why IUU fishing is the greatest threat and present recommendations on how Palau should bolster international partnerships between other national governments and non-governmental organizations to achieve the goals and purpose of the PNMS.