One of the world's largest marine sanctuaries is being created around Easter Island (Rapa Nui), Hotu Matuʻa, which can be translated as “The Sacred Sea of Hotu Matuʻa”. It is named after the legendary founder of the Rapa Nui people and covers almost the entire exclusive economic zone around the island.
The area of the protected territory is approximately 729 000–740 000 km².
This space, comparable in size to a large European country, has become one of the world's largest marine protected areas—and at the same time, one of the largest where an indigenous people plays a leading role in management.
An ocean managed by the islanders themselves
The uniqueness of Te Moana Tapu a Hotu Matuʻa lies not only in its size.
The sanctuary is jointly managed by the state of Chile and representatives of the Rapa Nui people.
The Sea Council — Koro Nui o Te Vaikava — includes six elected representatives of the local population and five representatives of the Chilean government.
Thus, the Rapa Nui people have a majority of votes in decision-making.
For such a large marine protected area, this is an unusual model. It means that the people whose culture and lives have been linked to the ocean for centuries are not just advising the authorities, but are directly participating in the management of the sea.
Almost three-quarters of a million square kilometers under protection
Within the sanctuary, it is forbidden industrial fishing and mineral extraction.
At the same time, traditional fishing by local residents is preserved.
This approach allows for the simultaneous protection of the ecosystem without destroying the way of life of the island community, for whom the sea remains a vital source of food, culture, and identity.
Under protection is a surprisingly rich ecosystem.
Here live more than 140 endemic species — animals and plants that are found only in this region.
In the waters of Rapa Nui are some of the easternmost coral reefs of the Pacific Ocean, deep-sea hydrothermal vents, and areas important for the breeding of tuna, marlin, and sharks.
The planet's largest animals also pass through these waters — blue whales, fin whales, and humpback whales.
Sea turtles are also found here, and the islands serve as a nesting site for approximately 17 species of seabirds.
Traditional knowledge meets satellites
In recent years, the management of the sanctuary has reached a new level.
Following consultations with local residents, an Integrated Management Planwas adopted, which defines exactly how the territory should be protected and used in the long term.
During the vote, about 86% participants supported the plan.
And in 2026, the Sea Council began collaborating with international conservation organizations that help Rapa Nui develop scientific monitoring and combat illegal activities.
Now, to monitor the vast marine territory, they use, among other things, satellite technologies.
Modern systems allow for tracking vessel movement, identifying suspicious fishing activity, and monitoring areas of the ocean where it is physically impossible to regularly send patrol ships.
For a territory with an area of nearly three-quarters of a million square kilometers, this is especially important.
World-class recognition
The work of the Rapa Nui residents has also received international recognition.
In 2026, the marine sanctuary was awarded Blue Park Award — an award that recognizes marine areas that meet strict scientific conservation standards.
But perhaps the main achievement lies not in the award itself.
Te Moana Tapu a Hotu Matuʻa shows that a vast ecosystem can be protected not only through central government decisions but also through cooperation with the people who live near it and possess knowledge accumulated over many generations.
The sea as part of culture
Rapa Nui is one of the most isolated inhabited places on Earth.
From here to major mainland territories, there are thousands of kilometers of ocean.
That is precisely why the sea has never been just a landscape around the land for the island's residents.
It provided food, determined travel routes, shaped culture, and allowed society to exist in the middle of the vast Pacific Ocean.
Today, this ancient connection has taken on a modern form.
The traditional knowledge of the Rapa Nui people is being combined with satellite monitoring, scientific research, and international funding.
And decisions about the future of the ocean are being made not only by officials and scientists, but by the island's residents themselves.
Nearly 740 000 km² of the Pacific Ocean are now protected according to a principle that seems both ancient and very modern: people who have lived alongside nature for centuries must have a real right to decide how to preserve it.
And, perhaps, such management models will become one of the keys to protecting the oceans in the twenty-first century.
