[Dhaw]

The BIOPAMA programme aims to improve the long-term conservation and sustainable use of natural resources in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, in protected areas and surrounding communities. It is an initiative of the ACP Group of States financed by the European Union’s 11th European Development Fund (EDF), jointly implemented by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission (JRC). Building on the first five years of activities financed by the 10th EDF, BIOPAMA’s second phase provides tools for data and information management, services for improving the knowledge and capacity for protected area planning and decision making, and funding opportunities for specific site-based actions.

[RHorning]

“It is in our DNA to conserve our ocean.”

[alethiophile]

“This took a lot of time and was a very costly exercise but it was crucial that we did this the right way, from the very start. Marae Moana belongs to all Cook Islanders, so everyone should have a say on how we manage it.” more

[isabelbonaguidi]

“Prior to Marae Moana, our EEZ was wide open to exploration and potential mining of manganese nodules on a considerable scale, but our government seabed minerals authority (SBMA) has since realised that designating specific blocks for nodule collection that fall outside of islands jurisdictions have eased the ‘fear’ that many Cook Islanders have about this industry. This type of inter-agency cooperation shows that Marae Moana is already bearing fruit in its infancy”. [links]

[jpi]

"Mankind only has one earth, one atmosphere, and one global ocean. One last chance to save it all for future generations," presented the Hon. Prime Minister Puna of the Cook Islands at the UN Ocean Conference in June, 2017.

[Vaschel33]

The marine park known as Marae Moana, literally translated as Sacred Ocean, was legislated in July, 2017. This includes a 50 nautical mile exclusion zone around each of the 15 islands which are no-take fishing zones protected under Marae Moana, leaving this for island communities to use.

[J Pitt]

Q: What does multiple-use mean? In a multiple-use park, a range of activities is permitted. There are zones where commercial activity is allowed and zones where it isn’t. So far, under the law, we have a ring extending 50 nautical miles from the coast of each island, inside which no large-scale fishing – no big boats and no mining are allowed. These are called exclusion zones and communities on all islands supported their creation. The locations and uses of other zones are yet to be determined. more

[binarysecurity]

Surveys commissioned by the team managing Marae Moana reveal that little is known within the Cook Islands community about the marine park covering our whole ocean – what it is, what it means, and why it matters. Respondents under the age of 17 were more aware than all other age groups, reflecting the success of school visits and sessions at Lagoon Day. But though Marae Moana made international headlines last year as the world’s largest marine protected area, at home it seems an ambiguous idea.

[zlavernenasho]

Q: How does Marae Moana intersect with the seabed mining discussions happening now? The Marae Moana Act permits sustainable seabed mining outside the exclusion zones, provided the potential impact has been thoroughly studied and caution has been faithfully exercised. This means a company has to prove a project isn’t going to cause the extinction of species or affect the way an ecosystem functions. Mining inside Marae Moana must also be approved through a process of public consultation. here

[legion050]

Q: What is Marae Moana? Marae Moana is the name of a multiple-use marine park covering the Cook Islands’ entire ocean. Last year, our Parliament passed an Act that laid the foundation for the park, which is the world’s largest and which represents a more coordinated and intentional approach to marine conservation. Marine protection is more important now than it has ever been. Overfishing, industrial pollution, and climate change have seriously threatened the sea and all life in it.

[leopoldo78fa]

WHY IS MARAE MOANA NEEDED? more

[jrabbit]

Marae Moana is a multiple-use marine park which extends over the entire Exclusive Economic Zone of the Cook Islands, an area of 1.9 million square kilometres. It is currently the largest commitment by a single country for integrated management and conservation from ridge to reef and from reef to ocean. Marae Moana was legally designated on 12th July 2017 by the Marae Moana Act 2017 which has the primary purpose of protecting and conserving the” ecological, biodiversity and heritage values of the Cook Islands marine environment.” Marae Moana was first announced at the formal opening of the 43rd Pacific Leaders Forum in 2012 when Prime Minister Henry Puna committed to establishing what was then known as the “Cook Islands Marine Park”. Prime Minister Puna said at the time, “With the full support of my government, traditional leaders and local communities, as well as the past contributions by the present Opposition, the Marine Park will provide the necessary framework to promote sustainable development by balancing economic growth interests such as tourism, fishing and deep-sea mining, with conserving core biodiversity and natural assets, in the ocean, reefs and islands”.

[Randallromans8]

Marae Moana is a multiple use area where zones will be drawn up for specific activities. These zones will be defined by the wants and economic, cultural, social and environmental needs of Cook Islands people. Island communities together with their local and national government will decide what they want to happen around their island. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park of Australia is an example of a large-scale marine protected area with zones that determine what people can and can’t do. In the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, activities such as trawling and aquaculture are allowed in the park but are restricted to certain areas. here

[barbarousrelic]

The Marae Moana Act 2017 establishes a Marae Moana Council which has nine members including the Prime Minister, the leader of the Parliamentary Opposition, the President of the formal body of traditional paramount chiefs known as the House of Ariki, representatives from the northern and southern islands in the Cook Islands as well as leaders in the private, religious and NGO sectors of Cook Islands society.

[greigmare64]

“Prior to Marae Moana, our EEZ was wide open to exploration and potential mining of manganese nodules on a considerable scale, but our government seabed minerals authority (SBMA) has since realised that designating specific blocks for nodule collection that fall outside of islands jurisdictions have eased the ‘fear’ that many Cook Islanders have about this industry. This type of inter-agency cooperation shows that Marae Moana is already bearing fruit in its infancy”. [links]

[summy]

“We are currently looking at mapping all areas of the EEZ as a Marine Protected Area and we will then work from that baseline, if and when approved there will be areas that allow industry, seabed exploration and fisheries,” said Mr Iro. [links]

[barbarousrelic]

It has been a long voyage thus far for Marae Moana with many milestone achievements made and many more yet to come. The voyage has included a strong crew of many people from within the Cook Islands who have contributed to its success to date and will continue to do so over the long haul. While Marae Moana may mean many different things to many different people one sentiment rings loud. [links]

[rdmiller3]

“For us this is a long term investment for our people, we know it is bigger than us, it’s about leaving a legacy in place that will help us all in the long run, and if we want to do it well, we must do it right,” said Ms Jacqui Evans, Marae Moana Director. here

[mico]

Ongoing steps for Marae Moana include finalising and securing a sustainable financing mechanism. Lessons learnt from other large scale Pacific Marine Protected Areas are being taken into consideration as the team explore options which would be most relevant to the Cook Islands in the long term. [links]