Latin America’s largest Marine Protected Area created around Rapa Nui
Minister Marcela Cubillos welcomed the news, stating that “protecting the oceans is a government policy for the Piñera administration.” Chile continues to be a leader in the expansion of protected areas, adding 57.9 million hectares.
Following its publication in the Official Gazette, the Rapa Nui Multiple Use Marine and Coastal Area has become a reality. The combined area of the new park and the existing Motu Motiro Hiva Marine Park is 72 million hectares, forming the largest marine protected area in all of Latin America.
“On World Ocean Day, we want to share our happiness and pride with Easter Island, which today celebrates the official publication of the decree creating the Rapa Nui marine protected area. It is the largest in Chile’s history, and the largest in Latin America. As we have said in the past, protecting the oceans is a State policy under President Piñera’s government,” said Environment Minister Marcela Cubillos.
The new park adds 57.9 million hectares to the protected area, making it the largest in Chile’s history. This will allow for the marine ecosystems of Easter Island and Sala y Gómez Islands to be protected. These ecosystems are quite different from those found on the coast of mainland Chile because they have tropical characteristics, with warm waters that are low in nutrients.
Given its isolation and limited connection to other islands, Easter Island’s coral ecosystems have unique species that are endemic to this area, and some are an important part of its culture.
The mammals protected by the park will include blue, minke and humpback whales and bottlenose dolphins. The marine birds include the red-tailed tropicbird, petrels, seagulls and boobies. The area is also inhabited by the pure snail, yellow-fin tuna, mahi-mahi, albacore, black mackerel, Easter Island Lobster, mango shark and many other species.
The Rapa Nui Multiple Use Marine and Coastal Protected Area will allow for the co-existence of various activities including small-scale fishing, tourism, scientific research, education, cultural activities, and environmental conservation.
Background
In 2015, the community of Easter Island organized the Marine Town Hall, a local participatory public space that set out priorities for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans around Rapa Nui, including a proposal for the creation of a protected area.
A working group was then created that moved the idea forward until a consultation was conducted with the Rapa Nui people under ILO Convention 169. A mass vote was held in September of last year in which the majority approved the creation of the marine protected area.
The area will be managed by a Board of Directors with five government representatives and six representatives of the Rapa Nui people. The government representatives will come from the Ministry of the Environment; the Ministry of Defense, represented by the Navy; the Ministry of the Interior, represented by the province’s government; the Ministry of Finance, represented by the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Services; and a member elected by the Easter Island Development Commission (COEDIPA).