This paper summarizes various integrated methodological approaches for studying Customary Management for the purpose of designing hybrid CM-Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) systems in Oceania. Using marine conservation in the Western Solomon Islands as an example, the paper illustrates various interdisciplinary human ecological methods that can assist in designing hybrid conservation programs. The study of human-environmental interactions from a socio-ecological perspective allows us to discern people's understanding of their immediate environment, differential forms of local resource governance and use (e.g., sea tenure and foraging strategies), and existing conflicts between various stakeholders, among other social and ecological factors. More generally, the paper shows how coupled studies of natural and social processes can foster management regimes that are more adaptive and effective and that move toward holistic, ecosystem-based marine conservation in the Pacific Island region. 1. Introduction Today, ecosystem-based management (EBM) is emerging as a leading approach for fisheries and coastal zone management around the world [1–3]. Essentially, EBM is the management of a particular ecosystem’s structure, function, and processes to sustain and foster ecosystem services for human society, and, therefore, it focuses on the interconnectedness of ecological, social, and economic parameters for developing place-based management plans of an ecosystem [4]. For all its potential, however, EBM has been hardly ever implemented successfully because numerous problems can arise from competing interests among stakeholders, undeveloped or inappropriate governance structures, poor science, or lack of political will [5, 6]. Government-sponsored EBM plans tend to focus on protecting biodiversity and ecosystem function, which, while they are important for sustaining and fostering ecological services [7, 8], are not a major concern in many Pacific Island nations. Furthermore, local governments and stakeholders are not too receptive to government-sanctioned schemes that disregard local governance institutions and practices [9], particularly members of customary management systems that are still prevalent in many parts of Oceania. Customary governance and management (CM) systems are cultural and historical practices designed to regulate the use of, access to, and transfer of resources locally, and they are informed by indigenous ecological knowledge and embedded in customary land- and sea-tenure institutions [10, page 202]. It is important to note that CM system are not
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