For the people of Rapa Nui, fishing is more than an activity — it is an economic system, a social structure and a foundation of community identity.
As Ludovic Burns Tuki explains that sustainability must be viewed as a pathway to autonomy and long-term development for the Rapa Nui people, rather than just conservation. The creation of the Rapa Nui Multiple-Use Marine and Coastal Protected Area marked a turning point. Before its establishment, the community lacked access to information about what was happening across their vast maritime territory. Monitoring more than 200 nautical miles of ocean was beyond local capacity.
Effective protection requires more than designation — it requires implementation. To support this effort, Rapa Nui managers are using Marine Manager, an innovative technology portal developed by Global Fishing Watch in partnership with Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy. Marine Manager enables users to visualize and analyze human activity at sea using satellite-based vessel tracking data and other information sources. By providing near-real-time insight into vessel movements and fishing activity, the portal supports monitoring, control and surveillance efforts and helps managers assess the effectiveness of their marine protected area.
Community leaders note that technology is a tool — one that complements traditional knowledge rather than replaces it. In Rapa Nui, Marine Manager strengthens local capacity, supports informed decision-making and enhances implementation of Indigenous-led ocean protection.
Explore how the island’s relationship with the sea shapes both livelihoods and governance, and how technology is strengthening the implementation of their marine protected area.
