1. Could you introduce the Direction des Ressources Marines and explain its strategic role in the sustainable management of French Polynesia’s marine resources?
I serve as Director of the Direction des Ressources Marines (DRM), the public authority responsible for overseeing marine resource development, regulation, and environmental stewardship in French Polynesia.
The DRM operates across three principal sectors: pearl farming (perliculture), fisheries, and aquaculture. Pearl farming focuses on the cultivation and commercialization of the world-renowned black pearl, now the country’s second-largest economic resource. Fisheries are divided into lagoon fishing, coastal artisanal fishing, and offshore fishing within our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Aquaculture, though emerging, holds significant long-term potential.
Our mandate combines development and control. We conduct applied research, support innovation, provide financial assistance, and transfer knowledge to professionals. At the same time, we draft and enforce regulations and evaluate public policies. In essence, we guide projects from conception to oversight. The DRM employs 98 staff members across French Polynesia and carries major responsibility, as marine resources form the backbone of our economy.
2. French Polynesia has one of the world’s largest Exclusive Economic Zones. What is your vision for turning this oceanic wealth into the foundation of a responsible blue economy?
French Polynesia manages an EEZ of nearly five million square kilometers, an extraordinary maritime heritage. However, size does not automatically translate into unlimited exploitation. Our strategy prioritizes sustainability, food security, and environmental resilience.
First, we focus on lagoon and coastal fisheries to ensure food autonomy for our population of 280,000. The COVID-era disruptions showed how easily island nations can be isolated. Feeding our people remains our primary obligation.
Second, in offshore fisheries, we emphasize professional, Polynesian-owned fleets using sustainable longline techniques. Purse-seine fishing is prohibited in our EEZ, and industrial exploitation of deep-sea resources is strictly controlled. Unlike many Pacific nations that license foreign fleets, we prioritize local ownership and local crews.
In aquaculture, we refuse to introduce non-native species. Instead, we develop endemic species adapted to our environment. We aim for quality over quantity and focus primarily on serving the domestic market, given our high production costs and geographic isolation.
For us, the blue economy is not only economic, it integrates environmental, social, and cultural dimensions. Polynesia is first and foremost a sea country. The future of our development lies in “blueing” the economy responsibly.
3. What regulations and control mechanisms are in place to combat illegal fishing and ensure stock sustainability?
Offshore fisheries are governed by international regional fisheries management organizations such as the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) and the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC). Tuna stocks are shared regionally, not nationally. Quotas and conservation measures are negotiated at this level.
Locally, our fleet of 82 Polynesian vessels must submit detailed electronic catch data, carry onboard observers, and use release systems for protected species such as dolphins, sharks, rays, and turtles. We prohibit purse-seine methods and drifting fish aggregation devices (FADs) within our waters.
Enforcement is conducted in cooperation with the French state, which provides satellite monitoring and maritime patrols. Closer to shore, DRM inspectors ensure compliance with licensing rules and fuel subsidies.
In lagoons, we implement Regulated Fishing Areas inspired by the traditional concept of Rāhui, temporarily closing zones to allow regeneration. Today, 26 such areas are co-managed with municipalities and local communities. This participatory governance model has proven highly effective in rebuilding stocks.
4. How does the DRM strengthen local value chains to benefit Polynesian communities?
Governance is based on consultation and co-construction. Each regulated fishing area has a management committee composed of municipal authorities, fishermen, civil society representatives, and environmental stakeholders. Regulations are only implemented after community approval.
The same principle applies to pearl farming. Local management committees review new installation requests and provide on-the-ground oversight. This decentralized approach ensures regulations are socially accepted and culturally grounded.
By integrating communities into decision-making, we ensure that marine resources benefit Polynesians first and foremost.
5. What are the development prospects and innovations in pearl farming and aquaculture?
In pearl farming, our priority is quality, not volume. Annual production averages 9–10 million pearls, with 6–7 million exported. We are working toward enhanced certification and traceability to elevate the international value of Tahitian pearls. Every pearl is quality-graded by DRM before commercialization.
We also diversify co-products: nacre shells are used in handicrafts and innovative applications such as nacre-infused concrete for construction in atoll regions.
In aquaculture, we have developed shrimp farming and fish farming (notably Platax orbicularis), but these require imported feed. To enhance resilience, we are prioritizing extractive species that require no external feed, such as oysters, sea cucumbers, giant clams, and algae.
Our long-term vision is integrated multi-trophic aquaculture, raising complementary species together to maximize efficiency and minimize environmental impact. This system reflects our commitment to ecological balance and innovation.
6. How does the DRM integrate climate adaptation and resilience into its policies?
French Polynesia has a comprehensive Climate Plan that guides all sectors. At DRM, we monitor lagoon temperatures, oxygen levels, and other parameters across pearl-producing atolls through long-term scientific observation networks.
We anticipate marine heatwaves and advise producers on adaptive measures, such as relocating stock to deeper waters during extreme temperature events. Species selection also reflects climate resilience; oysters and sea cucumbers are more tolerant than shrimp.
As island communities, climate change is not abstract, it is immediate. Rising sea levels and warming waters directly affect our livelihoods, so adaptation is embedded in every policy decision.
7. Are there opportunities for cooperation with the United States in marine research and ocean technology?
Absolutely. Cooperation depends on shared environmental contexts and mutual benefit. For example, we collaborate with institutions in Hawaii on algae research due to similar tropical conditions.
We remain open to partnerships in marine technology, biosecurity, and applied research. However, intellectual property is a sensitive issue, particularly in pearl farming, which represents a strategic economic sector. Future partnerships must ensure that innovations developed in Polynesia benefit Polynesians.
We also collaborate regionally with Pacific partners and international research bodies such as IFREMER, CNRS, and IRD. Expanding cooperation with U.S. institutions would be welcome where it aligns with our sustainability goals.
8. What message would you like to send to readers of the Los Angeles Times?
Small island nations can lead by example. Sustainable marine management is not the exclusive responsibility of large powers. In Polynesia, each fisherman, farmer, and community contributes at their own scale to preserving the ocean.
Our approach, prioritizing local species, community governance, and sustainable techniques, demonstrates that economic development and environmental stewardship are not contradictory.
Everyone, at every scale, has a role to play in safeguarding our oceans. If small nations can act responsibly, so can the rest of the world.
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