A new step has been taken in the creation of the world's largest marine protected area in French Polynesia. On Friday, an agreement was reached with President Brotherson to establish a $15 million fund, financed by nine non-governmental organizations involved in the project. Moetai Brotherson's announcement last June at the third United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice was met with global acclaim: the decision to create the world's largest Marine Protected Area (MPA) within French Polynesia's Exclusive Economic Zone. Specifically, covering 4.8 million km², this will be a Category VI MPA according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Charter. The area will be characterized by sustainable maritime management activities that combine biodiversity conservation with the needs of local communities. In addition, there are 900,000 km² under strict protection (IUCN categories I and II), including 200,000 km² of coastal areas under strong protection in the Society Islands, the Marquesas Islands, and the Austral Islands.
