 The key factors for the success or failure of marine protected areas, MPAs, are stakeholder engagement, leadership, enforcement capacity, and compliance with MPAs objectives. To ensure effective MPAs, it is necessary to develop protocols for assessing stakeholder engagement, leadership, enforcement capacity, and compliance with MPAs objectives. Additionally, these factors must be evaluated alongside ecological, social, and economic data and incorporated into adaptive management strategies to improve MPA effectiveness. This article was authored by Sylvain Jacoumy, Sylvain Jacoumy, Jennifer McGowan, and others.