French Polynesia Protects Biodiverse Ocean Area Twice the Size of Arizona Teeming with Life

– credit, Hannes Klostermann

The French Polynesian government recently announced it will fully protect 200,000 square miles of ocean, an area about twice as large as Arizona that’s teeming with ocean life.

Located near the Austral, Marquesas, and Western Society islands, this new marine preserve, called the Te Tai Nui a Hau Marine Protected Area, will take the total of the nation’s conserved ocean territory to around 540,500 square miles—twice the size of Texas.

Last year, French Polynesia fully protected a total of approximately 350,000 square miles around the Gambier and Society islands, while also designating several thousand miles of artisanal fishing zones.

Fishing in these zones is limited to single pole-and-line catch from boats less than 12 meters (39 feet) in length, allowing local people to continue fishing in traditional ways that sustain their community.

Across this new preserve network, there have been 3,088 square miles of artisanal fishing zones added in the waters surrounding the Austral Islands, and nearly 7,336 square miles around the Marquesas, covering coastal areas and nearby seamounts.

French Polynesia’s waters are home to exceptional marine biodiversity—including seabirds, sharks, whales, and species found nowhere else on Earth—and serve as important migration routes and breeding grounds for marine life.

– credit, Jayne Jenkins

Once the protections are implemented, 30% of French Polynesia’s waters— in total, an area twice the size of Texas—will be protected from all extractive activities, and other human uses will be limited.

The hope for French Polynesian President Moetai Brotherson is that the decision will serve as a model for large-scale ocean conservation rooted in local leadership and traditional stewardship while helping to meet the global goal of protecting at least 30% of the ocean by 2030 (known as “30 by 30”).

In a statement, the Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy, one member of a large coalition that assisted the French Polynesian government in planning, financing, and executing the new reserve, wrote that the final announcement is just the culmination of more than a decade of work led by Polynesian communities and local leaders and was supported by partner organizations.

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“Communities across the Austral and Marquesas islands have spent years shaping a collective vision for conserving their ocean that reflects both their cultural traditions and their future needs,” explained Donatien Tanret, who leads Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy’s work in French Polynesia.

“From the start, that vision included coastal protected zones around the islands and their seamounts, where artisanal fishing can continue for the local people who depend on it.”

Partners include the Becht Foundation, Bezos Earth Fund, Bloomberg Ocean Fund, Blue Marine Foundation, Blue Nature Alliance, Oceans 5, and the Wyss Foundation. These international philanthropic partners work with the government and local communities to support the establishment of long-term financing mechanisms, along with governance, scientific monitoring, and the capacities needed for the effective management of the marine protected areas.

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“This announcement reflects French Polynesia’s commitment to protecting our ocean for future generations while supporting the communities that depend on it,” said Taivini Teai, French Polynesia’s Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources, and Environment.

By combining large-scale conservation, traditional stewardship, and sustainable use, we aim to lead by example and demonstrate that ambitious ocean protection and local livelihoods can go hand in hand.”

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