On the morning when the Pacific sun rose over the turquoise lagoon of the Cook Islands, marine conservationist Jacqueline Evans stepped into the water, feeling the gentle power of an ocean that stretches far beyond the horizon.
The sea around these tiny islands is not a border—it is the lifeblood of a community, a culture, and, as she knew, a conservation frontier.
She had already helped create something exceptional: a sweeping marine protection zone unlike any other. Today she stood among windswept coral gardens and fish-rich reefs, aware that the next challenge—deep-sea mining—loomed on the horizon.
An Ocean to Protect
Born in New Zealand to a Cook Islander mother and an English father, Evans moved to the islands at age 15 and eventually discovered her life’s calling beneath the waves.
Her path led her from fisheries surveillance to conservation, and ultimately to a pivotal achievement: guiding the passage of the Marae Moana Act in July 2017.
This legislation declared the Cook Islands’ entire exclusive economic zone—approximately 1.98 million square kilometers—a “Sacred Ocean” managed for sustainability.
Evans later shared that she didn’t fully believe victory was possible until the moment Parliament passed the Act. “I never let myself think that we’d won until the legislation was actually passed through Parliament.”
For years, she travelled island to island—often by boat—meeting fishers, elders, traditional leaders, ministers, and NGOs. She united traditional Polynesian practices such as ra’ui, a community-protected no-take approach, with modern conservation science.
Triumph and Global Recognition
In 2019, Evans was honored with the Goldman Environmental Prize, a global recognition often regarded as the highest award in grassroots environmental activism.
The accolade celebrated her pivotal role in establishing what was then the world’s largest mixed-use marine protected area. Despite the significance of the achievement, she approached the recognition with deep modesty, remaining grounded throughout the attention it brought.
What mattered most to her was the happiness and pride expressed by the people of the Cook Islands, who saw the protected zones as a meaningful step toward safeguarding their ocean heritage.
Her work soon resonated far beyond the Pacific, demonstrating how a small island nation could lead with courage and foresight—protecting biodiversity while also strengthening cultural identity and securing the foundations of future prosperity.
The Next Wave: Mining Below the Waves
But progress can invite new challenges. Although the Marae Moana Act banned large-scale commercial fishing and seabed mining within a 50-nautical-mile radius of the 15 inhabited islands, the government also viewed deep-sea minerals as a potential future revenue source.
Evans grew concerned. The deep ocean remains one of Earth’s least understood ecosystems, and the rush toward mining troubled her. “If we destroy the ocean, we destroy our food supply, our livelihoods and our economy,” she cautioned.
Her call for a decade-long pause on deep-sea mining eventually carried professional consequences. Toward the end of 2019, she was removed from her position as director of the Marae Moana Coordination Office, a move widely interpreted as a response to her environmental concerns. Although she had anticipated the possibility, she continued working with dedication until the very end.
Even without her official role, she remained steadfast in her convictions. She consistently highlighted the risks that deep-seabed activities pose to little-known ecosystems, particularly the fragile species that inhabit polymetallic nodule fields.
Evans continued encouraging national leaders to explore economic opportunities that do not rely on extractive practices, emphasizing that long-term prosperity must be aligned with the protection of an irreplaceable ocean environment.
Building Hope Amid Tension
Walking along a volcanic island’s rim, one quickly realizes how little land the Cook Islands possess compared to the vast sea surrounding them. For these islands, marine stewardship is not optional—it is essential.
Evans spoke often of community—the fishers who rely on healthy reefs, the elders who remember ancient migration stories, the children learning to read the waves. Her conservation work bridged ecology and culture, reminding people that the ocean holds both scientific value and ancestral meaning.
She described her homeland proudly as a “large ocean state.” With 99 percent of the nation’s territory consisting of water, the health of the ocean defines the health of the people.
What It Means for the Wider World
The Cook Islands’ struggle mirrors a global dilemma: how can nations—especially small, developing ones—balance economic growth with ecological responsibility? Evans’ leadership provides clarity. Her efforts reframed marine protection not as a series of isolated reserves, but as a holistic governance model covering an entire ocean territory.
Researchers have noted that the initiative aims to deepen understanding of marine biodiversity, especially in the deep sea. “We know so little about what is living here,” scientists have said repeatedly. Rushing into mining without this knowledge risks causing irrevocable harm.
The debate in the Cook Islands is now watched by environmentalists, policymakers, and indigenous leaders across the world. Evans’ experience highlights how environmental defenders often face political pressure, yet their voices remain essential for long-term sustainability.
Ripples of Hope
Evans continues her mission today, guided not by an official title but by her own unwavering commitment. Her efforts now center on strengthening scientific understanding, supporting community-driven governance, and promoting sustainable stewardship that endures across generations. Through her work, cultural traditions, modern research, and ancestral knowledge remain intertwined in shaping how the ocean is cared for.
Her journey reflects more than policy and environmental advocacy. It represents the daily lives of families who depend on the sea for nourishment, the future of children who deserve thriving reefs, and the broader recognition that the ocean is far more than a source of resources—it is a guardian, a connection to heritage, and an essential part of community identity.
Ending With a Salt-Touched Promise
Standing on the windswept edge of a Cook Islands reef, Jacqueline Evans often looks out at the horizon—a reminder of both vastness and vulnerability. For her, the “Sacred Ocean” is not poetic symbolism; it is a commitment rooted in heritage and hope.
In a world straining nature’s resilience, her journey offers a grounding truth: protecting the ocean is not a luxury—it is an act of survival, culture, and collective dignity. The Cook Islands demonstrate that even small nations can make profoundly meaningful choices.
When we choose with care, we safeguard more than marine life. We protect the spirit of communities, the stories of ancestors, and the future of generations yet to come.
