Rapa Nui Marine Protected Area: Te Moana Tapu a Hotu Matu’a

The Rapa Nui Marine Protected Area encompasses the entire Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) around the Rapa Nui and Motu Motiro Hiva islands in the southeastern Pacific Ocean. Situated at the western edge of the Salas y Gómez Ridge, Rapa Nui MPA protects rare coastal environments, pelagic waters, deep-sea, and the southeasternmost coral reefs in the Pacific Ocean. Rapa Nui MPA’s offshore waters harbor deep-sea hydrothermal vents and a multitude of seamounts with unique community compositions.

The diverse habitats found within Rapa Nui contribute to high levels of species richness – boasting over 1,200 invertebrate, fish, mollusk, crustacean, and coral species. The area is also home to many threatened and endangered species, including five species of marine turtles and migratory marine mammals, such as the blue whale and the sperm whale. Several top predator species are also found within the MPA, including Galapagos sharks, yellowtail amberjack, Heller’s barracuda, and yellowfin tuna. Due to its geographic isolation, Rapa Nui is a hotspot for marine endemism, with around 40% of fish species being found only within the MPA or in the surrounding region. Rapa Nui and its nearby islets also serve as important nesting sites for seventeen species of seabirds.

The Rapa Nui Marine Protected Area system is comprised of five protected areas: the Rapa Nui Multiple Use Conservation Area, the Motu Motiro Hiva Marine Park, and three small, previously designated Multiple Use Conservation Areas. The worldview of the Rapanui community is closely tied to the ocean, which is central to their cultural identity, spirituality, and way of life. While excluded from decision making in earlier MPA designations, the local Rapanui community was instrumental to the creation of the Rapa Nui Multiple Use Conservation Area in 2017. Today, the entire Rapa Nui MPA is co-managed by the Chilean government and the Rapanui people.