Applying a seascape ecology approach enables biophysical and eco-cultural evaluation of marine protected areas

Journal article

Context: To properly determine the efficacy of marine protected areas (MPAs), a seascape perspective that integrates ecosystem elements at scales commensurate with the resources and their users is needed. Objectives: In 1983, the State of Hawaiʻi established the Pūpūkea Marine Life Conservation District (MLCD) on the North Shore of O‘ahu to conserve unique ecological resources and provide recreational opportunities. In 2002, the total marine area under protection was expanded by 0.7 km2 (545%), and restrictions on harvest were added through a community-driven process. We aimed to evaluate the biophysical and eco-cultural effects of this rezoning process using a seascape ecology approach. Methods: We applied a seascape ecology approach using landscape ecology theory to evaluate the new marine protected area design. The approach incorporated traditional ecological knowledge with in situ surveys and remote sensing, allowing us to examine unique biophysical conditions, specific ecological resources, and the eco-cultural and historical context of the Pūpūkea MLCD. Results: Examination of the cultural seascape of Pūpūkea illuminated numerous important species, heiau (places of worship), and wahi pana (storied places) that detailed the ways the local community was historically tied to ocean resources and the subsequent loss of those connections. The expansion and rezoning of the Pūpūkea MLCD resulted in an increase in habitat diversity, depth range, and structural complexity across the protected area seascape. Between 2003 and 2016, overall fish biomass increased by 60%, driven primarily by herbivorous species. Conversely, fish biomass outside the protected area remained low and relatively constant over this period. Conclusions: We found that multiple mo‘olelo (stories) speak to a historical coastal community highly interconnected with a sense of place, ocean rhythms, and fishing resources. The application of a seascape ecology approach and remote sensing technology allowed us to understand the eco-cultural context, quantify the biophysical context, evaluate broad-scale changes, and characterize the ability of this MLCD to protect and restore the area’s ecosystems. These results demonstrated that an adaptive, community-driven rezoning process produced an effective ecosystem-based protected area design that led to improvements in a number of fish assemblage metrics over time, which may allow for this community to reconnect with the cultural seascape and sense of place that once guided the stewardship of these marine resources.

Authors: Friedlander, AM; Wedding, LM; Antolini, D; Brown, EK; Stephenson, C

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Springer
• Journal: Landscape Ecology
• Volume: 41
• Issue: 3
• Article number: 47
• Publication date: 2026-02-11
• Acceptance date: 2026-02-01
• DOI: 10.1007/s10980-026-02310-5
• EISSN: 1572-9761
• ISSN: 0921-2973
• Language: English
• Keywords: Community-driven zoning; Seascape ecology; Hawaiʻi; Marine protected areas; Fish biomass; Adaptive management; Ecosystem recovery; Geographic information system (GIS)