Marae Moana

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”.