Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA)

One of the world's largest marine protected areas (~397,000-408,000 km2, ~11.3% of Kiribati's EEZ), covering 8 atolls/reef islands (Kanton/Canton, Birnie, Enderbury, Manra, McKean, Nikumaroro, Orona, Rawaki), 2 submerged banks and 14+ seamounts. From 1 January 2015 all commercial extractive activities (including all fishing) were banned throughout PIPA, including the territorial sea to 12 nm and all lagoons of the 8 islands. NOTE: in late 2021 the Kiribati government announced its intent to terminate PIPA and reopen it to commercial tuna fishing, and reports indicate it was reopened to commercial fishing from 2023; status is contested. Regardless, these remote atolls have no spearfishing access/infrastructure. Representative point: Kanton (Canton) atoll, PIPA's only serviced island and management base. PIPA center is approx. 3.65S, 172.86W.