Connecting conservation & culture: The importance of Indigenous Knowledge in conservation decision-making and resource management of migratory marine species

Migratory marine species (e.g., seabirds, marine mammals, fish, and sea turtles) cross and connect distant communities and ecosystems throughout their transboundary journeys. Due to their multi-jurisdictional and cross-cultural movements, studying, managing, and protecting migratory marine species as well as their habitats and migration routes are deeply political and geographically complex tasks. Despite a place-based cultural connection to migratory marine species; inherent rights, responsibilities, and authority to manage Sea Country (marine territory), Indigenous communities are far too often excluded from marine conservation decision-making. In this paper we conduct a narrative review and synthesis of relevant literature and analyze four community-driven case studies (both terrestrial and marine) that recognize the incorporation of Indigenous knowledge to support the governance and management of a culturally significant migratory species. The case studies are presented from an Australian Sea Country context as well as from a Canadian marine territory setting. Together these case studies highlight how Indigenous knowledge can increase the understanding of connectivity as well as provide a spatio-temporal baseline for species with limited science-based knowledge. It is essential that Indigenous communities as rights holders to Sea Country (marine territory) and owners of vast amounts of relevant marine knowledge be at the forefront of migratory marine species conservation decision-making for both coastal and distant offshore areas such as Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction. Bringing Indigenous knowledge and scientific monitoring data together has the potential to respond to Indigenous priorities for Sea Country and further contribute to the understanding of migratory marine species distribution, abundance, life cycles, threats, and oceanic connectivity.