Ocean governance
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POV: You're navigating ocean policy in Palau
With support from the Center for Ocean Solutions and the Woods Institute, Sophia Siegel, BS Earth Systems ’25, MS Earth Systems ’26, helped weigh proposed changes to one of the world’s largest marine protected areas.
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California can’t afford to weaken ocean protections in a warming world
Center for Ocean Solutions Co-Director Fiorenza Micheli and Stanford Oceans Postdoctoral Scholar Nur Arafeh Dalmau advocate for expanding and strengthening marine protected areas in California to restore kelp forests and fish populations increasingly impacted by climate change.
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Marine resource conflicts in Africa revolve mostly around access
A new study led by Managing Director Elizabeth Selig calls for more participatory, transparent governance after finding that the majority of 1000+ ocean conflicts in Africa stemmed from disputes over access to space and resources.
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Disputes over Africa’s ocean resources: Here’s what could help avoid them
The first step is to document where conflicts are occurring, who is involved, and the nature of the disputes.
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Researchers detect patterns in conflicts that shape ocean prosperity
Disputed access to ocean areas and resources, such as ports or fisheries, are the primary types of conflicts occurring across coastal countries in Africa, highlighting the need for equitable intervention strategies as more industries expand into the ocean.
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Stanford research and expertise help establish first-of-its-kind marine protected area
“Facilitating a space wherein communities can shape policies and decisions about their land, ocean, values, practices, and livelihood should be the norm,” said Josheena Naggea.
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Impact awards recognize value of gender-sensitive research
Colette Wabnitz’s work highlights an overlooked reality, where millions of women support global fisheries but remain invisible in official statistics and decision-making.
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Governing for transformation towards sustainable small-scale fisheries
Research Scholar Nicole Franz joins the In Common podcast to discuss her new book on human-centered management of fisheries in a complex world.
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WTO fisheries agreement: Implications for nutrition and ocean sustainability
“Managing fisheries is easier said than done," said research scholar Nicole Franz in an interview with Nutrition Insight.
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More scrutiny of domestic fishing fleets at ports could help deter illegal fishing
Domestic vessels account for the majority of port visits globally. Inspecting them in addition to foreign vessels is key to deterring illegal fishing, scientists say.
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Colette Wabnitz honored for highlighting women’s unique contributions to fisheries
The marine scientist joins two other women researchers honored by the Falling Walls Foundation for advancing gender equity in science.
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Global ocean action: 7 reflections from international ocean summits
Stanford scholars discuss ocean sustainability, high-seas protections, and interdisciplinary science at the One Ocean Science Congress and U.N. Ocean Conference.
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Culture is key to advancing ocean sustainability
Attendees of the third annual Stanford Oceans Conference shared approaches for recognizing and incorporating culture into governance across the Indian Ocean.
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Sand dredging encroaches on marine protected areas, scientists find
Nearly half of all dredge operators extract sand from protected areas of the ocean, highlighting the need to mitigate demand for the world’s most mined material.
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Transforming marine conservation, one chapter at a time
A new book co-authored by scholars, practitioners, and students champions a centuries-old vision for the future of marine conservation.
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Small-scale fishers’ role in feeding the planet goes overlooked
A new study co-authored by Nicole Franz of the Center for Ocean Solutions found that small-scale fishing could provide a significant proportion of the micronutrient intake for the 2.3 billion people on Earth who live near coastlines or inland bodies of water.
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Blue food project taps the ocean’s potential to feed the world
A collaboration between Stanford researchers and Indonesian organizations aims to capitalize on aquatic food sources to improve nutrition, food security, and livelihoods.
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Learning policy skills through “blue food” research
Structured as two Stanford courses, student groups developed policy reports with the goal of informing government decisions about how to incorporate fisheries and aquaculture into Indonesia’s national development strategy over the next two decades.
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Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions joins new Aquatic Blue Food Coalition at the UN Ocean Conference
The Coalition includes the European Union, Fiji, Germany, Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, Canada, Palau, Portugal and the United States of America, in addition to representatives from intergovernmental organizations, NGOs, academic institutions, aquatic food producers, consumer groups, financial institutions, and philanthropies.
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Mapping patterns and drivers of marine resource conflicts to guide solutions
Marine resources play important roles in creating more sustainable food systems, securing livelihoods, and preserving cultural traditions, yet the reasons behind these conflicts are poorly understood.
