French Polynesia Expands Marine Protected Areas to 30% of Its Waters

On June 7, 2026, French Polynesia's President Moetai Brotherson announced the expansion of fully protected marine areas by an additional 520,000 square kilometers near the Austral, Marquesas, and Western Society islands. This initiative increases the total fully protected waters to approximately 1.4 million square kilometers, accounting for 30% of French Polynesia's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The move aims to conserve marine biodiversity by prohibiting extractive industries such as seabed mining and industrial fishing within these zones.

Background and Implementation

In 2025, French Polynesia established the Tainui Atea marine protected area, covering nearly 5 million square kilometers of its EEZ. Within this area, 900,000 square kilometers were designated as fully protected waters. The recent expansion builds upon this foundation, reflecting the government's commitment to marine conservation. The protected zones allow for artisanal fishing, enabling local communities to sustain their livelihoods while preserving marine ecosystems. Artisanal fishing is limited to single pole-and-line catch from boats less than 12 meters in length.

Conservation Impact

The expanded protected areas are home to diverse marine life, including 20 species of sharks, such as the critically endangered scalloped hammerhead and oceanic whitetip. Additionally, these zones serve as breeding sites for 22 bird species, including the endangered Polynesian storm-petrel and the vulnerable Phoenix petrel. The protections also support species like swordfish, bigeye tuna, opah, 455 mollusk species, 60 pelagic fish species, three sea turtle species, and 10 marine mammal species.

International Significance

President Brotherson emphasized the broader mission of Oceanians in ocean conservation and expressed hope that this initiative would inspire other nations to manage their relationship with the ocean responsibly. The expansion aligns with global efforts to protect marine environments and underscores French Polynesia's leadership in marine conservation.

For more details, refer to the original article: French Polynesia expands ocean protections to 30% of its waters