2025 Coastal Monitoring and Benthic survey in Mo'orea, French Polynesia

Coastal erosion and sea level rise pose significant threats to island ecosystems, particularly in low-lying areas like Mo’orea, French Polynesia. Understanding the current status of Mo’orea’s coastline is essential for developing sustainable management strategies that balance ecological conservation with local economic and cultural interests. This project aims to assess coastal erosion and sea level rise by documenting the current state of Mo’orea’s coastline through observations of coastal armoring, benthic surveys, and boat activity. Data collection, conducted between 2022 and 2025 by UC Berkeley's Island Sustainability classes, will help identify potential links between maritime activity and shoreline integrity by correlating these observations with localized erosion patterns. This coastal monitoring procedure has been implemented along most of Mo’orea’s coastline and is designed for long-term assessment.