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25/01/2026
Following the commitments made in June 2025 during the United Nations Ocean Conference - UNOC -, and with the support of the Te Moana Collective amounting to 15 million USD - or about 1.5 billion CFP francs -, the government aims to create and implement at least 500,000 km² of additional strictly protected marine protected areas around the Austral Islands and the Marquesas Islands by World Ocean Day on June 8, 2026.
French Polynesia thus intends to concretely strengthen its blue sovereignty. This Friday, Moetai Brotherson received an international delegation from the Te Moana Collective in order to consolidate the resources dedicated to the management and monitoring of marine protected areas.
This strategic partnership is a direct continuation of the commitments made in June 2025 in Nice during the United Nations Ocean Conference - UNOC -. On that occasion, the government confirmed the creation of the largest marine protected area in the world, covering 4.8 million km², which corresponds to the entire Exclusive Economic Zone of French Polynesia and an area comparable to that of Europe.
This giant marine protected area already includes 900,000 km² placed under strict protection, notably in the Gambier Islands and in the Society Islands, as well as 186,000 km² reserved for artisanal fishing. By June 8, 2026, on the occasion of World Ocean Day, the government now aims to create at least 500,000 km² of additional strictly protected areas around the Austral Islands and the Marquesas Islands.
To support this ambition, the members of the Te Moana Collective have confirmed a financial commitment of at least 15 million US dollars, or approximately 1.5 billion CFP francs, until 2027. "Unlike traditional aid models, these funds will be managed according to the priorities of the government through the upcoming creation of a dedicated local financial structure. This sovereign tool will ensure that funding is allocated efficiently to field needs and to the long-term sustainability of the actions," the government stated in a press release.
This funding will support four priority areas: strengthening surveillance of the Exclusive Economic Zone, integrating traditional knowledge and the rāhui into governance, developing sustainable fishing and reinforcing food sovereignty, as well as scientific research and biodiversity protection, particularly in the Gambier Islands.
"When we establish marine protected areas, the question of management immediately arises, and that involves costs," Moetai Brotherson recalled. "It is not enough to declare that an area is protected. We must be able to go there, monitor it, and enforce the rules. All of this has a cost. Protecting such vast areas also means that we can no longer access them to do what we used to do there, especially fishing or other activities. We must therefore offer alternatives such as ecotourism or diving so that local populations can diversify their activities. These are also areas in which these organizations can support us," he concluded.
The international delegation will continue its mission this week in the field, in the Gambier Islands, in coordination with local committees, fishing professionals, and institutional authorities. At the same time, the presidency has confirmed the signing of an additional memorandum of understanding with the Blue Nature Alliance in order to secure long-term sustainable financing mechanisms such as trust funds or blue bonds.