French Polynesia

French Polynesia has now fully protected an ocean territory more than twice the size of continental France — a milestone that took over 12 years of community-led science, cultural expeditions, and hundreds of public meetings to reach. The newly protected zones shelter sharks, whales, and species found nowhere else on Earth, while still allowing local communities to fish using traditional methods. The model here — indigenous stewardship paired with international partnership — is already being watched as a potential blueprint for island nations working toward the global 30 by 30 goal.

French Polynesia’s Tainui Atea marine protected area, announced at the 2025 UN Ocean Conference in Nice, now spans over 4.5 million square kilometers, making it the largest marine protected area on Earth. The designation bans bottom trawling and deep-sea mining while preserving traditional artisanal fishing, protecting waters home to 21 shark species, 176 coral species, and over 1,000 fish species. Critically, 92 percent of French Polynesians surveyed support the protections, grounding this effort in genuine community ownership rather than top-down policy. The move raises global marine protection coverage to 9.85 percent, advancing the international 30×30 conservation goal.