How Palau is tackling offshore ocean research and what we can learn from it

A research project carried out by the Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC) recently published in the journal Pacific Conservation Biology highlighting the importance of research in Large-Scale Marine Protected Areas (LSMPAs) like the Palau National Marine Sanctuary (PNMS). The publication is titled ‘Navigating large scale ocean science in a Pacific small island developing state’.

The PNMS is an offshore LSMPA. Implemented in 2020, and covering an area of almost 500,000km², it necessitated Palau to develop its offshore research ability in order to support management. Owing to Palau’s important tuna fishery, investigating tuna reproduction in the PNMS was prioritized as a first step in this research.

In 2022, PICRC researchers used plankton nets to look at the top 50m in the PNMS. They towed these nets across different sites during the night. This was to investigate the diversity, abundance, and distribution of tuna larvae. Twenty-two tuna larvae were collected from five of the sites and modelling results suggest that the larvae originated at these sites. The researchers have also analyzed the gonads of sampled tunas collected by the Belau Offshore Fisheries Inc. They found that most of them were mature, with three of the 59 sampled fish actively spawning. The findings suggest that tuna spawn, to some extent, within the PNMS, and the PNMS provides local protection to tuna populations during this time.

Given the size and location of the PNMS, research in this area is challenging and logistically difficult. Using this research project as an example, the researchers then designed a platform with five steps for developing, undertaking and understanding offshore research in small island, large ocean states (like Palau), which includes advice on challenges and tips.

“This platform can support the ever-increasing demand for offshore research in small island, large ocean states with limited resources and expertise,” stated former PICRC researcher and first author, Dr. Louw Claassens.

For further information contact PICRC’s Chief Researcher, Ikelau Otto, on [email protected].