Coastal Impact of Boats and Fishermen in the Mo'orea Lagoon
In an effort to better understand the pressures the Mo’orea lagoon faces, the 2026 Island Sustainability Program conducted this project to measure the presence of fishing and other boats in the lagoon to estimate their level of impact on coastal disturbance.…
UPDATE 8-12-2026:
We collected 60 specimens in the area showing a rebound in population following the implementation of limited boating restrictions in the lagoon.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
In an effort to better understand the pressures the Mo’orea lagoon faces, the 2026 Island Sustainability Program conducted this project to measure the presence of fishing and other boats in the lagoon to estimate their level of impact on coastal disturbance. In collaboration with Jean Wencelius from CRIOBE and Irwin Oito, a local fisherman, the data was collected over two days in early March 2026 from a small fishing boat, launching from Ma'atea and Vaianae in the south side of Mo’orea. 2-3 observers participated in collecting the data with the use of the Gaia navigation tool. Type of boat, number of people, and fishing gear used (if applicable) were recorded within the lagoon with the aim to better understand coastal disturbance in Mo’orea.
