Empowering Communities to Protect Their Ocean
TONGA
ABOUT
TONGA
The Kingdom of Tonga is an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean made up of 169 islands with an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 700,000 km2. Tonga’s ocean is famous for its high biodiversity and coral reefs. In 2015, the Tonga Cabinet decided to create a Marine Spatial Plan to sustainably manage the nation’s marine resources for future generations.
The Vava'u Ocean Initiative is a partnership between the Government of Tonga, the Vava'u Environmental Protection Association and the Waitt Institute established in 2017. The program's goals are to support fisheries management, sustainable ocean planning, and conserve biodiversity while allowing for sustainable economic development. The Initiative has three focal areas: supporting creation of a sustainable ocean plan through Marine Spatial Planning (MSP), supporting creation of Special Management Areas (SMAs) for community fisheries, and supporting scientific research.
Follow the Vava'u Ocean Initiative on Facebook.
FOUNDING
PARTNERS
KEY
STATISTICS
ocean protection commitment
30%
99%
of Tongan territory is ocean
PROJECT
TIMELINE
MOU
GOVERNANCE & WORK PLANNING
ASSESSMENTS
PLANNING & LEGAL DEVELOPMENT
IMPLEMENTATION
PROJECT
MILESTONES
2015
Tonga government makes a decision to prepare a Marine Spatial Plan.
2015
Technical working group Ocean 7 holds first meeting to lead development of the Tonga Ocean Plan.
2017
MOU is signed between the Government of Tonga, Vava'u Environmental Protection Association and Waitt Institute to form the Vava'u Ocean Initiative.
2021
Tongan government approved the Tonga Ocean Management Plan.
PROGRAM
TEAM
IMPLEMENTING PARTNER
VAVA'U ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ASSOCIATION
The Vava’u Environmental Protection Association (VEPA) was started in May 2009 by a group of local leaders concerned with the pressing environmental conservation issues facing the islands of Vava’u. VEPA has four focus areas aimed at ensuring biodiversity and conservation, increasing knowledge exchange, and securing sustainable livelihoods.
KEY
PARTNERS
IUCN
The International Union for Conservation of Nature is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it.
"It is often said that Tonga is a small island nation, but we have a very vast ocean rich with marine resources. The ocean is our home, our identity and our culture and we must manage it to promote sustainable livelihoods, especially for future generations."
- Rosamond Carter Bing
CEO, Ministry of Land and Natural Resources.
REPORTS &
RESOURCES
LINKS
SCIENTIFIC & TECHNICAL REPORTS
Coming soon.