A scientific and human odyssey through the marine frontiers of French Polynesia
The Tao’a no Moana expedition will span twelve months aboard a fully autonomous catamaran–laboratory, charting the most isolated archipelagos of Polynesia—from the Austral Islands to the Gambiers, via the Tuamotu atolls and the Marquesas—to explore coral reefs at unprecedented depths, collect samples with the utmost respect for their ecosystems, and isolate high-potential molecules thanks to a state-of-the-art onboard lab.
Simultaneously, the team will conduct bathymetric surveys while gathering environmental data (temperature, salinity, nutrients, etc.) to enrich international databases on climate change and ocean health. At each island stop, the multidisciplinary crew—oceanographers, marine biologists, engineers, divers, and filmmakers—will turn their vessel into a traveling classroom, hosting scientific workshops, demonstrations, and film screenings to raise awareness among hundreds of children about the fragility of reefs and the urgency of ecological action.
Combining scientific rigor, human adventure, a sustainable economic model, and cinematic storytelling, Tao’a Moana aims to develop concrete solutions while providing local communities with the tools they need to protect their coral heritage and foster a blue economy that honors their lagoons.
5 OPERATIONAL GOALS
The Tao’a no Moana expedition pursues five major, mutually reinforcing objectives. First, it seeks to identify, collect, and analyze bioactive marine samples—from extreme corals and microorganisms—that could lead to therapeutic or cosmetic innovations. In parallel, it implements mapping protocols for unexplored reefs to deepen our understanding of Polynesian ecosystems and aid in their preservation.
The team also goes in search of the “Ocean Heroes,” local guardians who embody knowledge-sharing, resilience, and life-protection. On the educational front, they carry out school programs across the visited archipelagos, supported by a mobile app and specially designed learning materials. Finally, this adventure will form the centerpiece of a feature-length documentary, weaving together science, human stories, and oceanic beauty to broadcast its message of commitment far beyond the Pacific shores.
STOPOVERS
Coral: An Evolutionary Marvel Over 500 Million Years
Coral is much more than a mere marine organism. It is one of the oldest and most sophisticated architects of life on our planet. Emerging over 500 million years ago—long before the dinosaurs—coral has survived five mass extinctions, endured colossal climatic upheavals, and today continues to shape the richest ecosystems in the ocean.
The coral reefs that these tiny animals build in colonies harbor nearly 25 % of all marine biodiversity, despite covering just 0.2 % of the ocean floor. This extraordinary ecological feat is thanks to an invisible yet vital symbiosis: the partnership between coral polyps and microscopic zooxanthellae algae, which convert sunlight into energy. It is this delicate, intricate symbiosis that allows the slow yet enduring growth of the calcified structures we call reefs.
But coral’s brilliance goes beyond architecture. These organisms possess an ultra-adapted immune system, remarkable resilience, and they produce complex molecules with anti-inflammatory, antiviral, wound-healing, and antioxidant properties. Some species thrive in the abyss, without light or oxygen, while others withstand temperature spikes that prove fatal to most other life forms.
Today, faced with climatic and human pressures, corals are under threat. Yet they remain an inexhaustible source of insight for science, medicine, and technology. Every DNA sequence, every associated microorganism, every fragment collected with respect for the ecosystems is a potential key to novel solutions for human health and planetary resilience.
To explore coral is therefore to dive into 500 million years of living intelligence. It is to listen to what the Ocean has known since time immemorial. And it is, perhaps, to learn how to live better tomorrow.
DNA & SANCTUARY
Everyone agrees that reefs must be protected—whether they are threatened by mass tourism, coastal industry, intensive fishing, or other forms of destruction—but what do we really know about coral? Our level of knowledge remains fragmented and incomplete.
Genetic sequencing of corals opens the door to a comprehensive understanding of marine life: by decoding the genomes of each species, we understand their adaptation strategies to heat, ocean acidification, and disease, as well as the biochemical pathways that lead to the production of rare and precious molecules. This DNA mapping reveals not only the complexity of the ecological networks hidden within reefs, but also the urgent need to protect these living sanctuaries before they are irreversibly altered.
At the same time, bioproduction—the ability to reproduce molecules of interest identified through sequencing in the laboratory—guarantees an infinite and responsible supply, without depleting fragile ecosystems. Genetic sequencing thus appears to be the culmination of a comprehensive understanding of our marine resources, while bioproduction ensures their sustainability.
The Tao'a no Moana expedition embodies this dual ambition: to explore and exploit—in the noblest sense of the term—the genetic potential of corals to extract knowledge and applications, in order to convey a clear and motivating message: starting today, let's protect the reefs to preserve the ocean's most precious biological treasures and ensure both innovation and sustainability.
French Polynesia: a sanctuary for science, a springboard for the future
French Polynesia is not only one of the largest maritime territories in the world. It is a mosaic of exceptional ecosystems, a refuge for rare species, a natural laboratory for the study of coral reefs, and a human and cultural territory profoundly connected to the Ocean.
With its 118 islands scattered across a maritime area as vast as Europe, Polynesia harbors a geological, genetic, and climatic diversity unique on the planet. Its reefs—still untouched by scientific exploration in places—represent an invaluable biological heritage. Numerous endemic species, extreme corals, and abyssal microorganisms thrive here, carrying molecules with high therapeutic, cosmetic, and biotechnological potential. Today, this territory stands at the heart of high expectations for resilience, sustainable research, and new models of respectful biovalorization.
The Tao’a no Moana expedition fully embraces this dynamic, with a clear vision: to anchor cutting-edge research as close as possible to the exploration sites and to foster the emergence of innovative solutions derived from local resources.
Beyond its scientific missions, this adventure lays the groundwork for a circular, cooperative economic model—one that can transform knowledge into an industry, exploration into expertise, and discoveries into value-creating activities and sustainable local jobs.
Every sample collected during the expedition will adhere to the Nagoya Protocol, ensuring strict traceability, ongoing dialogue with local authorities, and fair sharing of benefits derived from the research. French Polynesia will not merely be a study site: it will become an active partner in valorizing its marine heritage and in the innovations that emerge.
Thalas Océan believes in applied, rooted, ethical science that builds the future. In French Polynesia, this ambition finds its fullest expression—at the crossroads of oceans, cultures, and possibilities.