Nice, France – On a remote raised coral atoll in the South Pacific, the tiny island nation of Niue is quietly protecting one of the world’s most ambitious marine reserves. While global leaders at the UN oceans gathering in Nice debate how to scale up efforts to safeguard the seas, Niue – population around 1,700 – has already put 40 percent of its waters under full protection and is crowdfunding to help keep them pristine.
Under a marine spatial plan adopted in 2022, Niue’s entire economic zone is divided into five areas – balancing strict conservation with sustainable fishing and tourism.
