The Islands Of Tahiti: A Mission Of Preserving Coral Reefs

World Reef Day, recognized on June 1, is a call to action for consumers, businesses, resorts and others to reflect on the delicate ecosystem of the oceans’ coral reefs. This celebration provides a day to bring together communities and leaders around the world to conserve these incredible marine ecosystems. The importance of preserving coral reefs is a global concern.

The Islands of Tahiti, located in the South Pacific, are doing their part via investment of time and resources of the local communities to preserve their beauty. As a result, the Islands are home to one of the world’s healthiest, most colorful coral reef systems in the world.

Surrounded by pristine, crystal-clear blue waters, the 118 islands and atolls offer natural beauty, authentic island culture and unique French Polynesian style. The Islands of Tahiti are world-renowned for their white-sand beaches, stunning turquoise lagoons and varied landscapes ranging from coral atolls to volcanic mountain peaks. Each island offers a variety of accommodation experiences from luxurious resorts with overwater villas, to family guesthouses, to sailing via private charter or scheduled cruises. Privacy comes naturally in The Islands of Tahiti, one of the few untouched sanctuaries left in the world where visitors can relax, reconnect and experience adventure or romance.

The following examples demonstrate the ongoing efforts of protecting the destination’s exceptional environment and the coral reefs across the islands:

Coral Gardeners: Moorea and Ahé

Coral Gardeners started as a dream of an island boy who believed he could change the world, one coral at a time. In less than six years, Titouan Bernicot brought the organization that started in a corner of his bedroom to a multidisciplinary team of more than 30 members determined to revolutionize ocean conservation and create a global movement to save the world’s coral reefs, through restoration efforts, community awareness, innovation and science development with its in-house CG Labs. In 2022, Coral Gardeners planted 15,225 nursery-grown corals from 20 different species, reaching a total of 30,980 outplants since their founding in 2017.

This year they added a new coral garden on the island of Ahe, with a goal to start a coral restoration project with the local community by upcycling abandoned pearl farms to preserve the lagoon. While Ahe provides ideal conditions to harvest oysters and the world-renowned Tahitian cultured pearls, some farms have stopped their activities in recent years, which has left debris in the ocean such as old fishing lines, nets and even some sheet metal. With the help of the islanders, the Coral Gardeners team was able to replant more than 2,000 healthy corals on damaged parts of the reef, which they had previously cleaned from rubbish. Next, they created two coral nurseries, reusing old fishing lines used to harvest oysters to grow more than 800 fragments of healthy corals.

Coral Garden Restoration Biorock Program: Taha’a and Bora Bora

Aiming at protecting and preserving the amazing and vibrant snorkeling conditions that exist in The Islands of Tahiti, Pearl Resorts of Tahiti has joined the Espace Bleu’s Biorock program. The Biorock technique helps to activate the recalcifying process of the damaged corals, through electricity from solar energy. Once these are mature enough, biologists will reintroduce them into their natural habitat, therefore repopulating reefs and coral gardens. This program is available at both Le Taha’a Island Resort & Spa and Le Bora Bora Beach Resort & Spa with the To’a Nui coral garden facing Mount Otemanu.

Te Mana O Te Moana: Tahiti

The Sea Turtle Care Center is a facility for the rehabilitation and protection of injured sea turtles which are delivered to the center from areas throughout French Polynesia. The center also provides interactive, educational programs to the public to promote best practices for both protecting and preserving French Polynesia’s marine environment. Beginning July, the facility will reopen on the island of Tahiti.