Wildlife of
French Polynesia

Primary Threats

• Ocean warming drives coral bleaching and shifts reef community structure in lagoons (notably around high-use islands like Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora). Sea-level rise and increased storm intensity threaten low-lying atolls (Tuamotus) through erosion, overwash, and saltwater intrusion, affecting coastal habitats and freshwater lenses. Ocean acidification reduces coral calcification, undermining long-term reef growth that protects shorelines and supports fisheries.
• Fishing pressure is concentrated near population centers and within accessible lagoons and nearshore reefs; localized depletion can occur for reef fish and invertebrates that support subsistence and tourism demand. In the wider EEZ, pelagic fisheries (e.g., tuna) require careful management to avoid overexploitation and bycatch impacts; monitoring and enforcement across vast distances remains costly and logistically difficult.
• Land-based runoff and wastewater from coastal settlements and tourism infrastructure can elevate nutrients and sediments in lagoons, contributing to algal blooms, reduced water clarity, and stress on corals and seagrass/algal habitats. Solid waste and plastics accumulate on beaches and reefs, including debris transported by ocean currents to remote atolls, harming seabirds and marine life and complicating waste management on small islands.
• Coastal development (resorts, marinas, shoreline hardening) and land conversion around urbanized coasts-especially Tahiti-reduces and fragments coastal vegetation, wetlands, and nearshore nursery areas. Dredging and lagoon modifications for navigation or construction can directly damage reef flats and alter sediment dynamics in enclosed lagoons.
• Introduced rats, cats, dogs, and invasive ants threaten native seabird colonies and endemic land birds by predation and nest disturbance. Invasive plants can outcompete native flora in moist and montane forests on high islands, altering habitat for endemic species. Invasive marine organisms can also spread via shipping and inter-island transport, posing risks to lagoon ecosystems.
• High tourism intensity in iconic lagoons (e.g., Bora Bora, Moorea) increases reef trampling, anchor damage, wildlife harassment (e.g., rays/sharks during feeding interactions), and disturbance of nesting seabirds on islets. Growing vessel traffic in lagoons increases noise and collision risk for marine fauna and can degrade sensitive habitats without well-managed mooring and access rules.
• Port expansion, coastal roads, and airport infrastructure (particularly on narrow coastal plains and low atolls) can remove coastal habitats, alter water flow, and increase sedimentation. Inter-island connectivity and shipping improve livelihoods but also increase pathways for invasive species and accidental pollution events.
• On small islands and atolls, limited freshwater resources can be depleted or salinized by drought and over-extraction, indirectly stressing terrestrial ecosystems and driving further coastal alteration. Extraction of coastal materials (sand/coral rubble) for construction, where it occurs, can exacerbate erosion and habitat degradation.
• While large-scale illegal wildlife trade is not the defining issue, demand for marine curios and ornamental species, and occasional pressure on protected or charismatic species, can occur in tourist markets. Stronger controls and education are important to prevent localized exploitation and ensure compliance with protections for marine mammals, turtles, and certain reef species.
• Alteration of lagoon circulation (through dredged passes, causeways, or shoreline engineering) can change salinity/temperature regimes and sediment transport, affecting coral health and fisheries productivity. Watershed modifications on high islands can increase peak runoff and sediment delivery to reefs during heavy rains.