The latest information on pearl farming in Tahiti.
19/02/2026
Meeting on Monday in Mangareva, the first management council of the Gambier marine protected area unanimously approved its management plan. The project, the result of several months of consultation with the population as well as with the services of the government and the French State, covers a maritime area comparable in size to mainland France.
The Gambier marine protected area thus becomes a reality. Organized around a territorial park and a coastal protection zone, it aims to preserve marine ecosystems, promote responsible ecotourism, and strengthen the food autonomy of the archipelago’s inhabitants.
Developed in close consultation with the local population and the services of both the government and the French State, the management plan was unanimously approved after six months of work and consultations.
"It happened quite naturally with the full support of the population and the services of the government and the State, which were the driving forces behind the implementation of this management plan," said Taivini Teai, Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources, Environment, Food, Research, and Animal Welfare.
Since September 2025, a local committee bringing together the municipality of the Gambier Islands, environmental associations, fishermen, and the tourism committee has actively participated in the development of the project.
"It is important for me because I am directly concerned. I therefore have to be present to represent it," said Michel Ly, a professional fisherman and member of the advisory committee. "It is the future of the archipelago and it is very interesting, I keep learning," admitted Alexis Crescence, president of the AS Coureurs des Gambier and member of the advisory committee. "We felt a lot of satisfaction; we can see that the project is becoming concrete and we are very happy," added Félicien Paeamara, fisherman and member of the advisory committee.
In Mangareva, the approval of the marine protected area was widely welcomed by the population. Building on this momentum, the government already plans to deploy in the coming weeks a similar initiative for a new marine protected area west of the Society Islands, around Maupiti.