Chile declares waters around Easter Island marine protected [1]
Thursday, September 14, 2017 - 16:09. Updated on Thursday, September 21, 2017 - 22:35.
Marine life in the Easter Island (Rapa Nui) waters, especially endemic species, should start thriving after the Chilean government declared it a marine protected area on 11 September.
Chile President, Michelle Bachelet made the announcement at the close of the Fourth International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC4).
The protected area, one of the largest in the world, is around 740,000 square kilometers, roughly the size of Chile.
It is home to around 142 species not found anywhere else, including 27 that are threatened or endangered. It is also an important spawning ground for many migratory species such as tuna, marlins and swordfish.
The Rapa Nui (Easter Island) Rahui Marine Protected Area (MPA) will safeguard the island from industrial fishing, mining, and other extractive activities, and will include management plans for Rapa Nui’s traditional fishing practices, using hand lines and rocks as weights when fishing in small open boats.
Residents of Easter Island had initially proposed the MPA to the Chilean government in 2015 and before the start of the IMPAC4, they endorsed the designation in a referendum.
Chile's Minister of the Environment, Marcelo Mena said "The government of Chile believes that public participation leads to better policy with a deeper connection to those who are affected, and we were committed to consultation with the Rapa Nui."
"That resulted in a vote to approve this marine protected area, limiting extractive techniques to those that are traditional to the Rapa Nui people."
The Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy Project, which works to help communities, governments, scientists and stakeholders worldwide, to commit to conserving the ocean, commends Chile’s declaration.
Dona Bertarelli, co-president of the Bertarelli Foundation said "We are delighted that President Bachelet has designated the Rapa Nui Rahui MPA, which protects one of the last true ocean wildernesses on the planet."
"The Rapa Nui's heritage is inextricably tied to the sea, and we are proud to have supported them on this journey to conserve their ocean habitat for future generations," she said.
Matt Rand, Director of the Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy Project, said "The Rapa Nui understand that a healthy marine environment is directly tied to their traditions and way of life. A thriving environment can help maintain a society's culture and traditions."
"This designation begins a new chapter in the island's history and serves as a lesson to other nations and communities that marine protected areas can strengthen ocean resilience."
Sebastian Yankovic Pakarati of Mesa del Mar, a coalition of more than 20 local organizations on Rapa Nui said the MPA will "safeguard our waters from industrial fishing, give us control over our own waters and resources, protect our way of life, and strengthen the Pacific Ocean and its growing network of protected areas."
Easter Island is also a UNESCO World Heritage site that is world famous for its Moai statues.