As I snorkeled in the turquoise lagoon off the island of Tahiti in French Polynesia, I marveled at the colorful swirl of life before me. A pair of eagle rays glided past. An immense ball of bait attracted jacks, barracuda and reeftip sharks. Butterfly fish and unicorn fish darted inches from my mask, gathering around bright coral baumies.

The waters around French Polynesia’s 118 islands and atolls are my favorite place to explore underwater . This is because the country has done an admirable job of protecting its marine resources, including banning seabed exploitation and shark fishing, as well as creating Marine Protected Areas rooted in local Indigenous knowledge.

By caring for its oceans, the Islands of Tahiti have enhanced their appeal for visitors. As we celebrate World Ocean Day, French Polynesia can serve as a model for successfully merging resource conservation with sustainable tourism.

“Our ocean is our identity,” said Vaihere Lissant, CEO of Tahiti Tourisme in a recent press release. “By protecting this heritage, we enrich travelers’ experiences and secure lasting benefits for our islands.”

Largest Marine Protected Area On Earth: French Polynesia

French Polynesia has the largest Marine Protected Area in the world . Called Tainui Atea, the protected zone spans nearly 5 million square kilometers, an area larger than the European Union. It was established in 2018 and reinforced in 2025, safeguarding a vast expanse of ocean that serves as habitat for whales, sharks, sea turtles and many other species.

Tainui Atea encompasses some of the Pacific’s most remote and ecologically intact marine environments. But what makes the initiative remarkable isn’t just its size. It’s the philosophy behind it.

The connection between people and the ocean runs deep in Polynesian culture. This is evident in the fact that Tainui Atea is guided not only by science but also by Indigenous and local knowledge. For instance, the management plan includes the practice of rāhui—temporary restrictions on harvesting or fishing that allow ecosystems to regenerate. Local communities play a central role in managing their marine resources.

This conservation initiative is also unique because French Polynesia has positioned ocean protection as a cornerstone of its long-term tourism development strategy. The management plan recognizes environmental protection as both a cultural responsibility and an economic investment.

Each of French Polynesia’s five archipelagos is developing locally managed Marine Protected Areas that meet the vision of the larger Tainui Atea. These local plans will be tailored to preserve the archipelago’s unique resources and cultural heritage for future generations. The goal is to ensure that marine conservation and sustainable economic development, including tourism, can go hand-in-hand.

The Gambier Islands , a remote archipelago in southeastern French Polynesia, are piloting how this process works for people and nature. Communities in the Gambier Islands developed a ten-year management plan, 2026-2036, that prioritizes small-scale ecotourism opportunities, many of them centered around the archipelago’s vibrant coral and world-class pearl farms.

Similar efforts are underway in the Tuamotus, Marquesas, Austral and Society Islands. For tourists visiting any of these archipelagos, the conservation initiatives translate to unparalleled experiences in thriving seascapes, whether whale watching, diving, or visiting beautiful beaches.

French Polynesia Is A Leader In Ocean Conservation

French Polynesia’s ocean leadership also extends beyond its own waters. The territory is part of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty, often called the High Seas Treaty , which went into effect on January 17, 2026. So far, 145 countries have signed the treaty and 89 have ratified it.

The High Seas Treaty enables the creation of Marine Protected Areas in international waters and paves the way for creating connected blue corridors that protect migratory animals like whales. It also helps create a united vision to care for the oceans that support billions of people worldwide.

Another example of French Polynesia’s inspiring leadership to protect marine resources was the territory’s complete ban on shark fishing in 2006. "The ban on shark fishing is the main reason why shark populations here are in great health compared to other areas around the world," Tatiana Boube, a shark ecologist at the University of French Polynesia in Tahiti, told me in a Zoom interview.

Polynesians’ willingness to protect sharks stems in part from the “grand cultural link” between people and sharks, Boube said. “In Polynesian culture, mankind is at the same level as any other life.”

Before the ban, sharks faced pressure from multiple sources. While they held cultural significance as totem animals for some Polynesian families, they were also harvested for ceremonies, food or tourist souvenirs made from shark jaws and teeth.

To bring back these keystone ocean predators, French Polynesia worked with local communities to ensure that the people who live closest to these animals are on board with keeping them alive. “Conservation only works if people locally see why it would be useful,” Boube told me.

French Polynesia is now home to one of the most abundant and diverse shark populations on earth, making it a diving hotspot for people keen to swim with sharks. Healthy shark populations are an indicator of a healthy ocean—and a healthy ocean draws more visitors to the Islands of Tahiti to marvel at its beauty.

French Polynesia’s approach to marine protection offers a blueprint for large-scale ocean conservation that benefits local communities. These gorgeous South Pacific islands with their colorful marine life draw tourists from far and wide—proof that conservation pays off, ecologically and economically.