At the One Ocean Summit in 2022 in Brest, French Polynesia pledged to create a network of marine protected areas of at least 500 000 km² within its EEZ.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are delineated areas at sea that meet marine biodiversity protection objectives and promote the sustainable management of maritime activities.

The exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of French Polynesia is home to 118 islands divided into five archipelagos, and is home to some 280 000 people, as well as biological and mineral resources of worldwide interest. It is notably home to the world's largest marine mammal sanctuary. Its codified classification would thus enable essential preservation of its ecosystems and the balance of the region.