OURS PROGRAM
Anti-Collision Campaign: One Ocean, One Breath of Life
"One Ocean, One Breath of Life" is an awareness campaign led by Te mana o te moana, with the support of its partners, in response to the increase in collisions at sea in French Polynesia. Sea turtles, whales, dolphins… and even humans are increasingly falling victim to such accidents.
In recent years, our care center has admitted 10 sea turtles injured in collisions with private vessels — an unprecedented number, considering that no similar cases had been recorded in previous years. Only four of them were able to be rescued and released. In 2024, a child was seriously injured in Rangiroa after being struck by a tour boat, and a humpback whale calf was killed between Tahiti and Moorea during whale season. Unfortunately, these events are not isolated: other collisions have been recorded in previous years, also involving dolphins and rays.
As nautical activity continues to grow, particularly between June and December — the period when humpback whales are present — this campaign seeks to raise awareness among all sea users: individuals, professionals, and tourism operators. It calls on them to slow down, keep watch on the surface, and navigate with caution, in order to protect life, both human and marine, in the shared ecosystem we all depend on.
Context
- Care Center: Te mana o te moana has taken in 10 sea turtles injured in collisions at its Rehabilitation Center, of which only 4 survived and were able to be released. In previous years, no sea turtles had been reported as victims of this issue. There has been an increase in the number of private vessel collisions with sea turtles.
- Boat collisions also affect humans for example, in 2024, a child in Rangiroa was struck by a tour boat.
- The fatal collision of a whale calf during the last whale season (October 2024) between Tahiti and Moorea. Sadly, this tragic incident is not unique: other boat collisions have occurred in previous years, affecting whales as well as other emblematic marine animals such as dolphins and rays.
- The presence of humpback whales in French Polynesia between June and December coincides with increased nautical tourism activity during this period.
Awareness campaign on the risks of collisions at sea
It is in this context that we wish to launch a large-scale awareness initiative built around two key actions: a multi-platform communication campaign aligned with these major sporting events, and a grassroots campaign consisting of training sessions and direct interventions with sea users, the general public, professionals, as well as local authorities and partner public organizations.
Production of a 30-second TV and radio spot on the protection of protected species, highlighting the importance of responsible behavior by sea users, viewed through the lens of the risks associated with collisions involving marine animals and humans.
Synopsis: Immersed in a marine world, to the rhythm of the breath of the turtle, the whale, but also the surfer and the diver, the viewer is confronted with the fact that we all share the same Ocean… and the same risks of collision. The aim is not to induce guilt, but to inspire through emotion the desire to protect and respect what we all enjoy: the ocean that surrounds us.
Grassroots campaign
In partnership with the DIREN, DPAM, and CMMPF, as well as associations specializing in marine conservation notably ‘OCEANIA’ and ‘Les Dauphins de Rangiroa’ and sea users, including the Tahitian Federation of Competitive Underwater Sports, we aim to raise awareness among sea users and the general public, from professionals and associations to decision-makers, public bodies, and partner organizations.
Islands: Tahiti, Moorea, Raiatea, Bora Bora, Rangiroa, Fakarava, Rikitea, Australes – tour planned between September and November 2025.
- Awareness for professionals: training centers and educational institutions linked to maritime professions (pearl farming, boat maintenance, etc.), providers of nautical sports activities (diving clubs, jet ski, foil schools, and other water sports), and providers of nautical tourism activities (island tour operators, etc.).
- Awareness for the associative and public network: focused on protected species and highlighting the importance of responsible behavior on the water, targeting environmental protection associations and public partners. All municipalities on the listed islands will be contacted to offer informational tours. In addition, each partner association will use these meetings to share general knowledge about marine biodiversity.
- Integration of adapted awareness materials into our educational programs for school audiences.
All municipalities on the islands mentioned, other than Tahiti, will be contacted to organize these informational tours in collaboration with them.
Any other municipalities wishing us to share these messages with their residents are welcome to contact us. Likewise, any other interested public or private organization may reach out to arrange awareness sessions.
To join and support our cause!
Contact info@temanaotemoana.org - 87 71 53 44
www.temanaotemoana.org
Partners
We would like to extend our special thanks to the Department of the Environment of French Polynesia, the Polynesian Directorate of Maritime Affairs, and the Marine Trades Center of French Polynesia for funding this campaign, as well as to our partners Pacific Beachcomber, Le Poids du Vivant, Vilebrequin, and Air Tahiti.
Thanks also to the associations: the Tahitian Federation of Competitive Underwater Sports, To’a Hine Spearfishing, Oceania, and Dauphins de Rangiroa for their involvement in the implementation of this project.
