The Dongsha Islands, a group of remote islands under Taiwan's jurisdiction, consist of Dongsha Atoll (the only atoll in Taiwan) and North Vereker Bank and South Vereker Bank (two coral reef groups). Dongsha Island is the only terrestrial portion of the islands. Owing to its location in the northern part of the South China Sea, the physical and chemical conditions fostered the formerly abundant marine and coastal biota of this region. This area is one of Taiwan's traditional fishing grounds. The islands are also located near the major sea route connecting the Pacific and Indian Oceans. However, due to improper fishing practices and the development of fishing facilities, the marine biota and habitats have been depleted in recent decades to the point of being threatened with extinction. These improper and excessive human activities/uses within the waters of the Dongsha Islands are threatening its ecosystems and resources through unsustainable exploitation and depletion. The current situation of the Dongsha Islands illustrates the difficulties of protecting the marine ecosystems of remote islands where the presence of law enforcement is not particularly in evidence. Even if the Kaohsiung City Government were to designate the Dongsha Islands a ¡§no-fishing zone¡¨, further steps, i.e., the planning and management of marine protected areas for example, would still require in-depth considerations and discussion. This study focuses on several aspects, including the planning process of developing the management plan, the legal and administrative framework of the management plan and associated action plans, and a model outline for developing the management plan and action plans. Following the results/guidelines are suggestions for further study.