Rethinking the 30 by 30 target to ensure the well-being of small-scale fishing communities

Target 3 of the Convention on Biological Diversity's (CBD) Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework calls for the protection of 30% of terrestrial areas, inland waters, and marine and coastal areas through area-based conservation (protected areas and other effective conservation measures) by 2030. As we progress toward this target, there is a need to critically evaluate the potential impacts of marine area-based measures on small-scale fishing communities, whose well-being is intrinsically entwined with marine ecosystems. Drawing on case studies from the Solomon Islands, we present principles and a roadmap to guide decision-makers tasked with implementing marine area-based conservation in determining whether, where, and how these measures can be effective and equitable in the context of areas used and governed by small-scale fishers. Importantly, we argue that communities should not shoulder the burden of meeting global conservation commitments.