French Polynesia President Announces Highly Protected Marine Area

Tuesday, 10 June 2025, 7:08 pm
Article: RNZ

RNZ Pacific

French Polynesia's president has announced his administration will establish one of the world's largest networks of highly protected marine areas (MPAs).

The highly protected areas will safeguard 220,000 square kilometres of remote waters near the Society Islands and 680,000 square kilometers near the Gambier Islands.

Speaking at the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, President Moetai Brotherson pledged to protect nearly 23 percent of French Polynesia's waters.

"In French Polynesia, the ocean is much more than a territory - it's the source of life, culture, and identity," he said.

"By strengthening the protection of Tainui Atea (the existing marine managed area that encompasses all French Polynesian waters) and laying the foundations for future marine protected areas... we are asserting our ecological sovereignty while creating biodiversity sanctuaries for our people and future generations."

Once implemented, this will be one of the world's single-largest designations of highly protected ocean space in history.

Access will be limited, and all forms of extraction, such as fishing and mining, will be banned.

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The government is also aiming to create a highly protected artisanal fishing zone that extends about 28 kilometres from the Austral, Marquesas, and Gambier islands and 55-and-a-half kilometres around the Society Islands. Fishing in that zone will be limited to traditional single pole-and-line catch from boats less than 12 metres in length.

Together, the zones encompass an area about twice the size of continental France.

President Brotherson also promised to create additional artisanal fishing zones and two more large, highly protected MPAs within the next year near the Austral and Marquesas islands.

He also committed to bolster conservation measures within the remainder of French Polynesia's waters.

Donatien Tanret, who leads Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy's work in French Polynesia, said local communities have made it clear that they want to see stronger protections that reflect both scientific guidance and their ancestral culture for future generations.

"These protections and commitments to future designations are a powerful example of how local leadership and traditional measures such as rāhui can address modern challenges."

Samoa announces MPAs

Before the conference, Samoa adopted a legally binding Marine Spatial Plan - a step to fully protect 30 percent and ensure sustainable management of 100 percent of its ocean.

The plan includes the establishment of nine new fully protected MPAs, covering 36,000 square kilometres of ocean.

Toeolesulsulu Cedric Schuster, Samoa's Minister for Natural Resources and Environment, said Samoa is a large ocean state and its way of life is under increased threat from issues including climate change and overfishing.

"This Marine Spatial Plan marks a historic step towards ensuring that our ocean remains prosperous and healthy to support all future generations of Samoans - just as it did for us and our ancestors."

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