French Polynesia wants to preserve its environment.
Its president Edouard Fritch announced this Friday the project of a “marine protected area of more than 500,000 km2″ and areas reserved for coastal fishing on an equivalent surface, during a summit on the oceans in Brest.
The project, which will be launched this year and should be finalized by 2030, will concern an area "located in the southeastern part of our economic zone", he explained during a summit at the initiative of the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron.
"Coastal zoning with a maritime area of nearly 500,000 km2 reserved solely for artisanal and subsistence fishing will be finalized before the end of the year in relation to the populations of our archipelagos", also announced the Polynesian president.
The project for this area called Rahui Nui “marks a withdrawal of 20% from the current professional fishing areas”.
“A major step forward”
The NGO Pew Trusts sees in a press release "a major step forward for the protection of Polynesian marine resources because the coastal areas concentrate the greatest density of marine species".
“These new protection zones reserved for artisanal fishing will make it possible to resolve the conflicts of use between artisanal fishermen and Polynesian industrial fishermen”, estimated Winiki Sage, president of the Federation of Environmental Associations of French Polynesia, quoted in the press release. .
These two announcements covering one million km2 mark "a huge victory for Polynesian ecosystems of exceptional richness", rejoiced sailor Dona Bertarelli, whose foundation supports the protection of the oceans.
Edouard Fritch also announced the creation of “compulsory mooring areas to limit the impact of wild moorings” on ecosystems.