Integrating Coastal Surveillance for Marine Sovereignty and Conservation: The Palau Case Study

The Republic of Palau has emerged as a global leader in marine conservation with the establishment of the Palau National Marine Sanctuary (PNMS), protecting 80% of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Monitoring such a vast ocean area poses significant challenges, especially for resource-limited nations. This paper describes the technical implementation and policy significance of the Coastal Surveillance System (CSS) developed by Scripps Institution of Oceanography in collaboration with Palau's Marine Law Enforcement. The system integrates solar-powered sensor nodes equipped with X-band radar, real-time video, AIS, and meteorological sensors, linked via Starlink SATCOM to a centralized command center. Beyond surveillance, the system also provides environmental data supporting hazard warnings, marine safety and resource management. As a technology demonstrator, CSS provides a scalable, dual-use model for maritime domain awareness that other small island nations may adapt to enforce marine protected areas and respond to transnational threats.