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Staci Lewis

The people of the Republic of Palau rely on coasts for food, culture, and their economy. Stressors from land use change, sea-level rise, and warming oceans could threaten the food and livelihood security of many Palauans. Moreover, potential unintended consequences of conservation policies could increase pressures on already heavily exploited reef systems. Specifically, the recently implemented Palau National Marine Sanctuary (PNMS) closed 80% of Palau’s Exclusive Economic Zone to fishing. As offshore fish become more scarce in the domestic market, managers worry about increased harvesting pressure on already overfished nearshore resources. Adaptively managing stressors in an integrated way can cost-effectively...
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Examining How Ridge-to-Reef Governance in Palau Can Enhance Coastal Food Security in a Changing Climate
The Republic of Palau, a Freely Associated State of the U.S. and a global leader in ocean conservation, recently implemented the Palau National Marine Sanctuary, which closed 80% of its ocean to fishing. As offshore fish become scarcer in the domestic market, managers have begun to worry about increased harvesting pressure on already overfished nearshore environments. This pressure, in addition to stressors from land-use change, sea-level rise, and warming oceans, could threaten the food and economic security of many Palauans. However, adaptively managing stressors in an integrated way can mitigate declines and even promote recovery, while still being cost-effective, resulting in direct benefits to coastal communities....
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