New James Cook University-led research warns that the future of Pacific small-fishing communities may be compromised by ambitious marine conservation targets set by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
The warning comes as countries work towards the '30 by 30' target, established by the CBD'sKunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which focuses on area-based management and commits more than 190 nations to protecting 30 per cent of land and sea by 2030.
The goal is widely seen as a critical response to the global biodiversity crisis. However, an international study, led by JCU, cautions that the target may compromise the rights and well-being of coastal communities the Pacific.
"There's a big push from international organisations and governments to lock up large areas of the ocean for protection," explained JCU lead researcher Professor Amy Diedrich.
"This poses a risk that the needs of small-fishing communities, who rely on fisheries for their food and income, will be overlooked."
Drawing on marine management case studies of the Solomon Islands, the team created a roadmap to help guide area-based marine conservation initiatives that affect coastal communities in the Pacific.
"Rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all solution, our roadmap focuses on national circumstances, good governance and respecting existing tenure," said Prof Diedrich.
"It also sets out practical steps to build on what communities are already doing to manage marine resources, set ethical targets, and ensure conservation efforts are sustainable over the long term."
Co-author David Boseto, the Director of Ecological Solutions Solomon Islands, said collaborative planning demonstrates how global targets can be achieved without sacrificing livelihoods.
"Local fishers are mapping their most important fishing grounds and cultural sites, and instead of blanket restrictions, they're helping design zones that protect biodiversity while allowing sustainable fishing," he said.
"The result is stronger local ownership, better compliance and more resilient communities. It shows that by genuinely involving small-scale fishers, we can meet the 30 by 30 target in a way that safeguards both ecosystems and livelihoods."
Co-author Ms Margaret Fox, Pacific Community Adviser on Gender and Social Inclusion for Fisheries, said Pacific peoples have long managed marine resources sustainably.
"For generations, Pacific communities have relied on small-scale fishing and have managed marine resources in ways that sustained both people and ecosystems.
"They are not just resource users — they have deep ecological knowledge and are long-standing custodians of biodiversity," she said.
Ms Fox stated that recognising and strengthening the methods of local stewardship will determine the success of the 30 by 30 target in the Pacific.
"If small-scale fishers are meaningfully included, conservation can support biodiversity and human wellbeing together," she said.
"Without that inclusion, well-intentioned global targets risk harming the very communities most closely connected to the sea and dependent on marine resources for their survival."
The researchers concluded that coastal communities should not be made to shoulder the burden of meeting global conservation commitments –– and that equity, effectiveness, and sustainability must be the foundation, not the afterthought, of marine conservation in the Pacific.
