Nearly five million square kilometres of ocean in the South Pacific will receive the highest level of protection against harmful practices such as deep-sea mining and bottom trawl fishing, thanks to the establishment of the world's largest marine protected area.
This initiative was announced by the French Polynesian government at the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, this week, alongside several other Marine Protected Areas.
Covering over 1.9 million square miles, with 1.1 million square kilometres designated as highly or fully protected, where only traditional coastal fishing, ecotourism, and scientific exploration are permitted, this plan stands out as the most significant marine protection effort revealed this week.
The government of French Polynesia has committed to expanding its highly protected area by an additional 500,000 square kilometres by World Ocean Day in 2026.
“We have been wisely managing this exclusive economic zone for centuries, utilising techniques passed down from our ancestors,” stated Moetai Brotherson, the president of French Polynesia. “Now, we aim to take a bold step to align with international standards set by the IUCN.”
“In French Polynesia, the ocean represents more than just territory; it is a vital source of life, culture, and identity. By enhancing the protection of Tainui Atea—the existing marine managed area that includes all of French Polynesia’s waters—and establishing future marine protected areas in the Austral, Marquesas, Gambier, and Society Islands, we are affirming our ecological sovereignty and creating biodiversity sanctuaries for our people and future generations.”
Over the past decade, the French Polynesian government has collaborated with local groups, communities, scientists, and international partners to promote the establishment of a larger marine protected area.
The government plans to establish an artisanal fishing zone that will collectively cover 186,000 square kilometres. This zone will extend 15 nautical miles from the Austral, Marquesas, and Gambier islands and 30 nautical miles around the Society Islands. In addition to the artisanal fishing zones, two highly protected areas will be designated as marine protected areas, totalling 1,086,000 square kilometres—approximately twice the size of continental France.
In addition to announcing these marine protected areas (MPAs), President Brotherson has pledged to enhance conservation efforts throughout the rest of French Polynesia’s waters. This will involve incorporating public participation in management, strengthening fisheries management plans, and prohibiting deep-sea mining as well as the use of drifting fish aggregating devices—free-floating objects that commercial fishers use to attract fish in the open ocean.
During the United Nations Ocean Conference, Dona Bertarelli, a philanthropist and advocate for nature with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, stated, “To improve and preserve ocean health—essential for human well-being and sustainable livelihoods—urgent action is required. French Polynesia has demonstrated its leadership by making a historic commitment to establish one of the world’s largest Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).”
Recent polling indicates that over 90% of French Polynesians support the creation of new highly protected areas. Respondents highlighted the importance of protecting ocean resources for both present and future generations, emphasising the need to respect cultural values and incorporate traditional stewardship practices, such as rāhui, which involves temporarily closing natural areas to encourage regeneration.
The waters of French Polynesia are renowned for their rich marine biodiversity and thriving ecosystems, which serve as a sanctuary for 21 species of sharks, a reef system that hosts 176 species of coral, and 1,024 identified species of fish.
"Local communities have expressed their aspirations clearly. They seek stronger protections that honour both scientific recommendations and their ancestral traditions for the benefit of future generations," stated Donatien Tanret, who heads Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy's initiatives in French Polynesia.
"These protective measures and commitments to future designations exemplify how local leadership and traditional practices like rāhui can effectively tackle contemporary challenges."
