Want to sponsor a piece of ocean paradise? How one Pacific island’s novel response to rising seas is paying off
Share:
The tiny nation of Niue has raised £3m selling sponsorship of its marine protected area at just over £100 for a square kilometre. Niue, also known as the Rock of Polynesia, is one of the tiniest island states in the world. It takes a mere two hours to drive around it, giving views of its rugged limestone cliffs and occasional sandy coves. These coves give way to caves and chasms, once used for storage, burial sites and even as living spaces. But perhaps what visitors seek most are its crystal clear waters, home to spinner dolphins, eels, grey reef sharks, sea snakes and humpback whales.
![[A man leans on a white fence in front of a tropical backdrop with palm trees and blue sea]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/91db956128798ef378bb37c8bcd5a2910065a3f4/0_0_1440_1440/master/1440.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Now the island is engaged in an innovative plan to try to conserve these vast and pristine territorial waters. The scheme, which has been running for a year, involves selling off sponsorship of the ocean surrounding the island to individuals or companies for NZ$250 (£116) a square kilometre. So far, it has raised NZ$7m, nearly halfway to its target.
![[A certificate shows a sponsorship of four ocean conservation commitments at NZ$1,000, equivalent to 4km squared of ocean to support the Moana Mahu area]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cfcbe822b5510ab2de440a5cafb1bdb60f503866/0_0_985_1440/master/985.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
The idea is that this sponsorship will help to fund management of the ocean, including dealing with maritime security, bolstering climate resilience and conserving marine life in the island’s Moana Mahu marine protected area (MPA). Some of the money will be used to help support local people – for example fishers and their families – where the restrictions needed for ocean conservation may impact on their income. It comes at a time when Pacific islands on the frontline of the climate crisis are struggling to deal with the impact and cost of rising sea levels.
![[A bearded man stands in front of a clear blue sea and palm tree.]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c570835c3f31631302df52e81d3c07a16de3da81/0_0_7951_5301/master/7951.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
