To better organize moorings and protect the fragile ecosystems in French Polynesia’s lagoons, the maritime authority now requests that boaters register their sailboats prior to anchoring in certain frequented areas. A pilot phase is underway until December 31, 2025.

Registering to Anchor in the Lagoons of French Polynesia

This is the new rule that has been in place since 30 June 2025 with the Escales system. After cruise ships and yachts, recreational sailboats are now experimenting with this platform for booking and managing anchorages. The stakes are high: managing the increase in maritime traffic, preventing illegal anchoring, protecting fragile coral reefs and alleviating growing tensions between users and local residents.

 The pilot phase involves the following areas: Tahiti (Taiarapu West), Ra’iātea, Taha’a, Huahine and Fakarava. Boaters must create a user account on the Escales teleservice at escales.gov.pf, register their vessel with the necessary administrative and technical information, and then reserve moorings in the designated areas.

At the same time, eco-friendly anchors will gradually replace traditional moorings. The first of these are planned for Taiarapu Ouest in July 2025, followed by Ra’iātea and Taha’a in early 2026, with wider deployment planned for 2027.

If the experiment is successful, the system will be implemented across the board and the use of the platform will become mandatory. Pricing will be adapted according to mooring area occupancy in order to improve long-term service quality.

 This full-scale test aims to reconcile the lure of the open sea with the preservation of the lagoons. Sailors have six months to get used to the system  and thus contribute to the protection of this unique marine heritage in their own way.