Treat, study, release
- Rehabilitation of injured or sick turtles reported across the islands.
- Scientific monitoring of populations and protection of their natural habitats.
Te Mana O Te Moana
Protecting sea turtles in French Polynesia
Te Mana O Te Moana works for the conservation of sea turtles and the preservation of the marine environment in French Polynesia since 2004.
Who we are
Our mission
Since 2004, Te Mana O Te Moana has worked across French Polynesia to protect sea turtles and pass on a lasting culture of the ocean.
Teaching the generations of the ocean
- Teaching programmes for young Polynesians and for visitors.
- Tools and fieldwork to shift everyday behaviour.
700+ turtles taken in since 2004
300+ turtles released back into the wild
1 000 turtles photo-identified TORSOOI protocol
767 press articles since 2004
231 TV features France, Polynesia, international
326 430 estimated hatchlings born on Tetiaroa since 2007
24t+ waste collected field clean-ups
What we do
Our Work
Conservation
Rehabilitation, scientific research, population monitoring and protection of sea turtles and their natural habitat.
Learn more →
Education
Raising awareness of marine protection among young Polynesians through innovative teaching programmes.
Learn more →Since 2004
Our history
Te Mana O Te Moana is founded in Moorea by Cécile Gaspar and Richard Bailey
2004
The sea turtle rehabilitation centre opens — the first of its kind in French Polynesia
2008
Launch of the Tia I Honu sea turtle photo-identification network
2012
The ITE education platform goes live, a digital tool for marine education in Polynesia
2016
Launch of the IMPACS programme in partnership with Wallis and Futuna
2020
The sea turtle rehabilitation centre moves from Moorea to Tahiti, now hosted within the InterContinental hotel in Faa'a
2023
Launch of Honu Iti, a programme dedicated to monitoring juvenile turtles
2024
Participation in the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice
2025
The team
People devoted to the ocean
Marine biologists, vets, educators, communicators, volunteers — a multidisciplinary community united by one conviction: protecting the sea turtles and the marine environment of French Polynesia is both urgent and a shared responsibility.
12 staff members
60+ volunteers a year
22 years of experience
4 areas of expertise
Rehabilitation centre
Visit our centre
Come and meet the sea turtles in our care, and discover alongside our keepers the rehabilitation work carried out in Tahiti, within the InterContinental hotel. Every visit funds our conservation and education programmes.
- Guided tours of 1 hr or 1 hr 30, offered every week depending on available slots
- Meet the residents in our care
- Open to the whole family, young and old
From 2,500 XPF Adults 12 and up
From 1,000 XPF Children 4 to 12
Find us
PK 7 — Hôtel Tahiti InterContinental Resort, Faa'a, Tahiti
- Open 8 am to 4 pm
- +689 87 71 53 44
Your impact
Support our mission
Every donation, large or small, helps us continue our conservation, rehabilitation and education programmes in French Polynesia.
Stay informed
Latest news
Our news is published in French.
Bienvenue à notre nouvelle Directrice des opérations
Bienvenue à notre nouvelle Directrice des opérations ! Nous avons le plaisir d’accueillir Laëtitia Bisarah en tant que Directrice des opérations de notre association. Ayant déjà collaboré avec Te…
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳é𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲
Dans le cadre de la Journée mondiale des tortues marines le 16 juin, Te mana o te moana vous invite à une conférence dédiée à la conservation de ces espèces emblématiques. Venez découvrir 20 ans…
Des nouvelles de nos pensionnaires
Ces derniers mois, nous avons accueilli de nombreuses tortues vertes émergentes en détresse. Voici les dernières nouvelles de nos pensionnaires du centre de soins.
