While numerous studies have examined lagoon pollution in French Polynesia, none have yet approached the issue from a social sciences perspective. To address this gap, the local government has launched a study running through December, aimed at raising public awareness about reducing macro-waste in coral lagoons. These lagoons, which have suffered declining water quality for years, are the focus of the investigation.
In January, IFREMER had already highlighted the concerning impact of microplastic pollution on pearl oysters in the Tuamotu archipelago, emphasizing pearl farming’s role in this environmental challenge.
A partnership agreement (No. 2233 VP/DRM) was signed between the government, the École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE), the Centre de Recherches Insulaires et Observatoire de l’Environnement (CRIOBE), and the Marine Resources Department for a project titled “Social Perceptions of Pollution and Pearl Farming Waste in the Tuamotu.” This anthropological study seeks to examine the social crisis affecting pearl-producing atoll communities.
The agreement notes that pearl farming, due to its extensive plastic use, significantly contributes to lagoon pollution. Plastic waste—both macro-debris and microplastics—exerts environmental pressure on coral ecosystems and aquaculture populations.
The study will focus on analyzing plastic pollution through a social sciences lens, primarily anthropology, to better understand local perceptions of pollution and waste.
Findings will help propose solutions to reduce macro-waste pollution in coral lagoons and could lead to developing a best practices charter with the Marine Resources Department. This social approach is considered crucial for influencing pearl farmers’ practices and mitigating lagoon pollution.
Finally, an ethnographic survey will be conducted across three Tuamotu atolls (Ahe, Takaroa, Takapoto) to compare socio-economic similarities and ecological differences between sites. An anthropology student will oversee the six-month fieldwork.
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