French Polynesia Protects Biodiverse Ocean Area Twice the Size of Arizona Teeming with Life

The French Polynesian government recently announced it will fully protect 200,000 square miles of ocean, an area about twice as large as Arizona that’s teeming with ocean life.

Located near the Austral, Marquesas, and Western Society islands, this new marine preserve, called the Te Tai Nui a Hau Marine Protected Area, will take the total of the nation’s conserved ocean territory to around 540,500 square miles—twice the size of Texas.

Last year, French Polynesia fully protected a total of approximately 350,000 square miles around the Gambier and Society islands, while also designating several thousand miles of artisanal fishing zones.

Fishing in these zones is limited to single pole-and-line catch from boats less than 12 meters (39 feet) in length, allowing local people to continue fishing in traditional ways that sustain their community.

Across this new preserve network, there have been 3,088 square miles of artisanal fishing zones added in the waters surrounding the Austral Islands, and nearly 7,336 square miles around the Marquesas, covering coastal areas and nearby seamounts.