Te mana o te moana organises public conferences for the passengers aboard the cruising ship Paul Gauguin.

On thursdays, twice a month, a biologist from te mana o te moana is present on the boat, in the conference room, presenting the various actions implemented by the non-profit foundation for the protection of marine environment.

The speach focuses on sea turtles too, presenting the different species, et what threatens them.

Jean-François Aillet, a sculptor living in Normandy, France, has been working for several years on a very poetic art work: the Tides’ Solitaire (le Solitaire des Marées).

The idea is to collect 7000 samples of sand from all over the world, and gather them in an original collection, which the future generations will inherit. With these sands will also be created a unique diamond, mixing a few of each of these 7000 different types of sand, named “The Tides’ Solitaire”.

For more information about “The Tides’ Solitaire” (in French)

te mana o te moana heard about this project thanks to his patron, Jean-François Clervoy, and sent to the French artist several samples:
– two handfuls of white sand from Moorea
– two handfuls of black sand from Tahiti
– two handfuls of sand from Tetiaroa atoll. This sand plays a very important role. Indeed, Tetiaroa being an important nesting area for sea turtles, it is in this sand that the eggs remain during two months after being layed, until the newborn sea turtles rise out of the buried nest to reach the sea.
– two handfuls of sand from Fangatau, a remote atoll from the Tuamotu archipelago.

Listen to the radio interview “Allô la Planète” (in French), presenting the project with the participation of Jean-François Aillet, Jean-François Clervoy and Cécile Gaspar:

http://www.aillet.com/collecte/actualite/interviews.htm
http://www.aillet.com/presse/LeMouv_19032012/AllolaplaneteLEMOUV.mp3

You too can contribute to build the “Tides’ Solitaire”

Send two handfuls of sand from where you live, and add the picture of your sampling:

>>  more information (in French)…

Te mana o te moana, as an active contributor to the protection of the marine environment by awareness raising, was invited to take part.

The team set up an information booth with interactive activities on ocean conservation and sustainable tourism.

The visitors being essentially passionate of sea or users of the lagoon (professionals and amateurs, practising fishing, sailing, surfing, diving or va’a), the event offered a good opportunity to present the Sea Turtles’ Observatory, and the Cetaceans Observatory, and to welcome any new “observer”.

Tahiti Legends and Voyages de Légende have offered financial support for the employment of a young underprivileged polynesian in te mana o te moana’s team.

Since September 2011, Noël is now part of the team, thanks to the sponsoring and enthusiasm of Brigitte Keromen (Voyages de Légende) and Alain Bernard (Tahiti Legends).

Done for the touristic partners of the Moorea lagoon, this formation managed by the marine biologist, Matthieu Petit, has welcomed 28 participants. At the end of the day, each participant gains a diploma of participation and the practical guide on sustainable marine-based activities in French Polynesia.

Those days have been the opportunity for all actors partners (scuba diving centers, whale watching and ray feeding companies, etc…) to share all problems that could happen during their nautical activities. The start-up of a lagoon policy, or the better understanding of the residents or touristic people has been touched.