This Project Grant award of $362,234 from the National Science Foundation's Geosciences Program (CFDA 47.050) supports research conducted by President and Fellows of Middlebury College, doing business as Middlebury College, to examine the socio-ecological dynamics of marine protected areas and small-scale fishing communities in Madagascar. The research will investigate the relationship between ecosystem health, fishing practices, and community engagement in conservation efforts. The project aims to quantify feedbacks between marine species abundance, biomass, and diversity, and the level of participation by coastal communities in monitoring, enforcement, and decision-making processes. The research results are expected to illuminate the complex interactions within coupled socio-ecological marine systems and inform more equitable conservation strategies. Middlebury College plans to collaborate with Malagasy researchers and international conservation organizations through this research initiative, which will run from September 2024 to August 2026.