Accessibility Statement Skip Navigation
  • Why PRWeb
  • How It Works
  • Who Uses It
  • Pricing
  • Login
  • GDPR
  • Create a Free Account
Return to PRWeb homepage
  • News
  • Resources
  • Contact
When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type.

Searching for your content...

No results found. Please change your search terms and try again.
  • News in Focus
      • Browse News Releases

      • All News Releases
      • Multimedia Gallery

      • All Multimedia
      • All Photos
      • All Videos
  • Business & Money
      • Auto & Transportation

      • Aerospace, Defense
      • Air Freight
      • Airlines & Aviation
      • Automotive
      • Maritime & Shipbuilding
      • Railroads and Intermodal Transportation
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Transportation, Trucking & Railroad
      • Travel
      • Trucking and Road Transportation
      • View All Auto & Transportation

      • Business Technology

      • Blockchain
      • Broadcast Tech
      • Computer & Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Components
      • Electronic Design Automation
      • Financial Technology
      • High Tech Security
      • Internet Technology
      • Nanotechnology
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Semiconductors
      • View All Business Technology

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Financial Services & Investing

      • Accounting News & Issues
      • Acquisitions, Mergers and Takeovers
      • Banking & Financial Services
      • Bankruptcy
      • Bond & Stock Ratings
      • Conference Call Announcements
      • Contracts
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Dividends
      • Earnings
      • Earnings Forecasts & Projections
      • Financing Agreements
      • Insurance
      • Investments Opinions
      • Joint Ventures
      • Mutual Funds
      • Private Placement
      • Real Estate
      • Restructuring & Recapitalization
      • Sales Reports
      • Shareholder Activism
      • Shareholder Meetings
      • Stock Offering
      • Stock Split
      • Venture Capital
      • View All Financial Services & Investing

      • General Business

      • Awards
      • Commercial Real Estate
      • Corporate Expansion
      • Earnings
      • Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
      • Human Resource & Workforce Management
      • Licensing
      • New Products & Services
      • Obituaries
      • Outsourcing Businesses
      • Overseas Real Estate (non-US)
      • Personnel Announcements
      • Real Estate Transactions
      • Residential Real Estate
      • Small Business Services
      • Socially Responsible Investing
      • Surveys, Polls and Research
      • Trade Show News
      • View All General Business

  • Science & Tech
      • Consumer Technology

      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Blockchain
      • Cloud Computing/Internet of Things
      • Computer Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Consumer Electronics
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Gaming
      • Financial Technology
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Multimedia & Internet
      • Peripherals
      • Social Media
      • STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Math)
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Consumer Technology

      • Energy & Natural Resources

      • Alternative Energies
      • Chemical
      • Electrical Utilities
      • Gas
      • General Manufacturing
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Oil & Energy
      • Oil and Gas Discoveries
      • Utilities
      • Water Utilities
      • View All Energy & Natural Resources

      • Environ­ment

      • Conservation & Recycling
      • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Policy
      • Environmental Products & Services
      • Green Technology
      • Natural Disasters
      • View All Environ­ment

      • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Aerospace & Defense
      • Agriculture
      • Chemical
      • Construction & Building
      • General Manufacturing
      • HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning)
      • Machinery
      • Machine Tools, Metalworking and Metallurgy
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Paper, Forest Products & Containers
      • Precious Metals
      • Textiles
      • Tobacco
      • View All Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Telecomm­unications

      • Carriers and Services
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Telecommunications Equipment
      • Telecommunications Industry
      • VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Telecomm­unications

  • Lifestyle & Health
      • Consumer Products & Retail

      • Animals & Pets
      • Beers, Wines and Spirits
      • Beverages
      • Bridal Services
      • Cannabis
      • Cosmetics and Personal Care
      • Fashion
      • Food & Beverages
      • Furniture and Furnishings
      • Home Improvement
      • Household, Consumer & Cosmetics
      • Household Products
      • Jewelry
      • Non-Alcoholic Beverages
      • Office Products
      • Organic Food
      • Product Recalls
      • Restaurants
      • Retail
      • Supermarkets
      • Toys
      • View All Consumer Products & Retail

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Health

      • Biometrics
      • Biotechnology
      • Clinical Trials & Medical Discoveries
      • Dentistry
      • FDA Approval
      • Fitness/Wellness
      • Health Care & Hospitals
      • Health Insurance
      • Infection Control
      • International Medical Approval
      • Medical Equipment
      • Medical Pharmaceuticals
      • Mental Health
      • Pharmaceuticals
      • Supplementary Medicine
      • View All Health

      • Sports

      • General Sports
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Sporting Events
      • Sports Equipment & Accessories
      • View All Sports

      • Travel

      • Amusement Parks and Tourist Attractions
      • Gambling & Casinos
      • Hotels and Resorts
      • Leisure & Tourism
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Passenger Aviation
      • Travel Industry
      • View All Travel

  • Policy & Public Interest
      • Policy & Public Interest

      • Advocacy Group Opinion
      • Animal Welfare
      • Congressional & Presidential Campaigns
      • Corporate Social Responsibility
      • Domestic Policy
      • Economic News, Trends, Analysis
      • Education
      • Environmental
      • European Government
      • FDA Approval
      • Federal and State Legislation
      • Federal Executive Branch & Agency
      • Foreign Policy & International Affairs
      • Homeland Security
      • Labor & Union
      • Legal Issues
      • Natural Disasters
      • Not For Profit
      • Patent Law
      • Public Safety
      • Trade Policy
      • U.S. State Policy
      • View All Policy & Public Interest

  • People & Culture
      • People & Culture

      • Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American
      • African American
      • Asian American
      • Children
      • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
      • Hispanic
      • Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual
      • Men's Interest
      • People with Disabilities
      • Religion
      • Senior Citizens
      • Veterans
      • Women
      • View All People & Culture

  • Hamburger menu
  • Cision PRWeb provides efficient communication tools to continuously engage with target audiences across multiple online channels
  • Create a Free Account
    • ALL CONTACT INFO
    • Contact Us


      11AM ET Sunday – 8PM ET Friday

  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • News in Focus
    • Browse All News
    • Multimedia Gallery
  • Business & Money
    • Auto & Transportation
    • Business Technology
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Financial Services & Investing
    • General Business
  • Science & Tech
    • Consumer Technology
    • Energy & Natural Resources
    • Environ­ment
    • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing
    • Telecomm­unications
  • Lifestyle & Health
    • Consumer Products & Retail
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Health
    • Sports
    • Travel
  • Policy & Public Interest
  • People & Culture
    • People & Culture
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR

French Polynesia’s Austral Islands Propose New Marine Reserve
  • USA - English


News provided by

The Pew Charitable Trusts

Apr 06, 2016, 08:25 ET

Share this article

Share toX

Share this article

Share toX

The Polynesian practice of rāhui restricts access to an area or resource to conserve it for the well-being of the whole community
The Polynesian practice of rāhui restricts access to an area or resource to conserve it for the well-being of the whole community

A marine reserve of this magnitude would add to the growing movement by Pacific island governments to protect their waters

Post this

Papeete (PRWEB) April 06, 2016 -- The communities of the Austral Islands yesterday presented a proposal to the government of French Polynesia for a marine reserve in their waters that would be the largest fully protected area on Earth at 1 million square kilometers. The islanders are asking for this reserve to help maintain healthy fish stocks to feed their families and support local fishermen while maintaining Polynesian customs that date back hundreds of years. The Austral Islands have one of the healthiest marine ecosystems on the planet, in large part because of the use of traditional conservation techniques.

The reserve would be named Rāhui Nui Nō Tuhaa Pae, or “the big rāhui of the Austral Islands,” referring to the traditional Polynesian practice of rāhui, which restricts access to an area or resource to conserve it. This name was first proposed by the “wisemen” committee of Rapa Island, the customary authority on the southernmost of the seven islands, and considered the guardian of the rāhui custom.

Currently, the practice of rāhui on Rapa provides protection only to coastal species. However, local communities now see the importance of safeguarding offshore species by using the same methods at a larger scale.

“In the 1980s, we witnessed overfishing along our coastlines as modern fishing techniques and freezers arrived to our island,” said Tuanainai Narii, the mayor of Rapa. “We brought our fish stocks back to healthy levels by reinstating a coastal rāhui. Now we see what is happening in the larger Pacific and recognize that more must be done to conserve pelagic fish stocks, which is why we are calling for this marine reserve as a big rāhui on the open ocean.”

Fish stocks are collapsing in the Pacific, and most of the main commercial species are overfished. For example, bigeye tuna populations have decreased by 84 percent. The Austral Islands are one of the last untouched fish reservoirs in the Pacific.

The islanders identified four main objectives for the proposed reserve: preserving habitats and marine resources for the long term; managing use conflicts among stakeholders; enhancing the cultural heritage of the Austral Islands and developing ecotourism; and raising awareness about the importance of conserving marine resources.

In 2014, the municipal councils of the islands approved a resolution calling for "creation of a large marine reserve in the Australs’ exclusive economic zone beyond traditional fishing areas.” The proposal to create the marine reserve has now been submitted to the government of French Polynesia by the municipalities of the Austral Islands with support from the Federation of the Polynesian Environmental Associations (FAPE) and The Pew Charitable Trusts.

“It was very important to consult the entire population to find out what people want for their waters. Through meetings and interviews in each village of each island, everyone was able to contribute. The proposed marine reserve is really a community-led effort by and for the population of the Austral Islands,” said Frère Maxime, an influential figure in French Polynesia who is vice president of FAPE.

The Austral Islands make up the southernmost archipelago of French Polynesia and are home to about 6,800 residents on five inhabited islands: Rimatara, Rurutu, Tubuai, Raivavae, and Rapa. The islands’ relative isolation has resulted in a high number of species unique to the archipelago’s waters. For example, of the 455 species of mollusk found there, more than 20 percent—98 species—are endemic. The region also hosts three species of sea turtles, 10 species of marine mammals, 14 species of sharks, four species of rays, and 60 pelagic fish species. The island of Rurutu is one of the best places on Earth to observe humpback whales, and the lagoon and 28 coral islets of Raivavae are natural wonders with dramatic seascapes.

Less than 2 percent of French Polynesia’s industrial fishing takes place in Austral waters, totaling about 90 tons per year. Local fishermen typically employ traditional methods to meet food needs, using small boats less than 10 meters long. In the marine reserve proposal, fishing would still be permitted out to 20 nautical miles around each island, encompassing the area used by local fishermen, who rarely fish beyond this zone.

“French Polynesia already has the biggest marine mammal and shark sanctuary in the world. Creation of this large marine reserve would confirm the territory’s status as a leader in ocean conservation,” said Jérôme Petit, who directs Pew’s Global Ocean Legacy campaign in French Polynesia. “A marine reserve of this magnitude would add to the growing movement by Pacific island governments to protect their waters to improve the health of the ocean.”

In 2015, more ocean area was designated to be set aside as fully protected marine reserves than during any other year in history with the announcements of the Palau National Marine Sanctuary, the Easter Island Marine Park, the Pitcairn Islands Marine Reserve, and the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary. Still, even with these successes, only about 2 percent of the ocean is fully protected today.

French Polynesia pledged in 2013 to protect at least 20 percent of its waters by 2020. Designation of this marine reserve would fulfill its commitment and help meet broader scientific targets for protecting at least 30 percent of the ocean.

Andrea Risotto, The Pew Charitable Trusts, http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/projects/global-ocean-legacy, 202-540-6510, [email protected]

Modal title

Photo Credit Poema du Prel
Photo Credit Poema du Prel
Photo Credit Ian Skipworth
Photo Credit Ian Skipworth
Photo Credit Poema du Prel
Photo Credit Poema du Prel
Photo Credit Poema du Prel Photo Credit Ian Skipworth Photo Credit Poema du Prel

Contact PRWeb

  • 11AM ET Sunday – 8PM ET Friday
  • Contact Us

About PRWeb

  • About PRWeb
  • Partners
  • Partnership Programs
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Resources

Why PRWeb

  • Why PRWeb
  • How It Works
  • Who Uses It
  • Pricing

Accounts

  • Create a Free Account
  • Log in
  • Contact Us

Do not sell or share my personal information:

  • Submit via [email protected] 
  • Call Privacy toll-free: 877-297-8921

Contact Cision

Products

About

My Services
  • All News Releases
  • Online Member Center
  • ProfNet
Cision Distribution Helpline
888-776-0942
  • Legal
  • Site Map
  • RSS
  • Cookie Settings
Copyright © 2025 Cision US Inc.