Marine Protected Areas, Multiple-Agency Management, and Monumental Surprise in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

The governance of large-scale marine protected areas (MPAs) often relies on institutional collaboration, presenting unique challenges due to differing agency mandates and cultures. A study analyzing qualitative interview data from the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) reveals that its multi-agency management model—involving two federal agencies and the State of Hawai‘i—has successfully navigated these challenges through collaborative ecosystem-based management. The research identifies principal barriers to institutional cotrusteeship, characterizes transformations among partner agencies, and evaluates this governance arrangement as a potential model for global MPAs. These insights are crucial as multi-agency managed MPAs become increasingly common worldwide.

Kittinger, J. N., Dowling, A., Purves, A. R., Milne, N. A., & Olsson, P. (2011). Marine Protected Areas, Multiple-Agency Management, and Monumental Surprise in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Journal of Marine Biology, 2011, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1155/2011/241374