Taha Moana - One Ocean

In 2003 Niue declared its national waters a Whale Sanctuary. In 2005, Niue developed a Plan of Management for its sanctuary outlining the objectives and aspirations of the Niuean people for the sanctuary. Oma Tafuā (meaning 'to treasures whales'), Niue's non government organisation dedicated to the protection and conservation of marine mammals in Niue and the wider Pacific was founded in 2005 and launched in 2006 with a vision to help Niue meet some of the activities under the Plan which also align with some of Niue's regional and international obligations (by either being member or signatory to some organisations).

For Niue's research, the main species studied is the endangered Oceania humpback whale which is also the key targeted species in Niue and the Pacific for whale watching (including swimming with). The fact that this single species hasn't recovered to their great numbers pre-hunting is a driving force for the NGO to enhance our knowledge and understanding as to why when other populations are showing healthier signs of recovery? When whaling was allowed, greater than 220,000 of the humpback whales that migrated throughout Oceania were hunted and killed. The population has nowhere near recovered to such numbers as with many of our other great whales.

This app not only serves to helping Niue but the entire region tackle data deficiency to enhance our knowledge of all marine mammals collectively. From data received we are able to analyse and help other countries in providing them with data.

Oma Tafuā relying heavily on fundraisers/donations, donor boats and volunteer crew, now has 130 individual humpback whales identified in their Niue catalogue. Of these whales, one has only ever been re-sighted here in Niue; but additional photo ID matches have been made to Tonga, Cook Islands and the Kermadecs with the first genetic match to New Caledonia (made in 2015). Such findings reinforce that the resource is a shared one and how much a small team such as Oma Tafuā on a small annual average budget of $6,000.00 annually can produce. A rare experience was the Team's documented song change during 2010 where 2 different songs were recorded in the same year – some of the special and yet amazing highlights onboard Niue's Whale Research.

Oma Tafuā's dreams are slowly coming true with the development of this app, the promise of a small office in Niue including a Whale Festival in 2018. Oma Tafuā are hoping in the very near future to have their own research vessel, an education centre, a long term acoustic study of the marine environment on western Niue and a bigger vision for greater investment by our Pacific governments for our Pacific peoples' involvement in the management of our natural assets in all aspects including the insertion of research programs into the school curriculums. Oma Tafuā's app is called Taha Moana: One Ocean simply because it connects each and every one of us. We are all responsible for the protection of our one Ocean.