The marine spatial planning, Plan de Gestion de l’Espace Maritime (PGEM) of Moorea was established in 2004 and includes scientific surveys of the Marine Protected Areas (MPA) from the shore to the outer slope.

The Service d'Observation added five control areas.

Eight MPAs :

• 5 fully protected MPAs (MPA index 2, see Decision tree.pdf)
  • North : Tiahura, Pihaena and Aroa
  • West : Taotaha and Tetaiuo
• 3 moderately protected MPAs (MPA index 5, see Decision tree.pdf)
  • East : Nuarei, Ahi and Maatea

Five Control Areas :

• North : Entre deux baies (E2B) (between the 2 bays)
• East : Temae and Afareaitu
• West : Haapiti and Gendron

117 surveyed stations
In each marine area, 3 zones are described a) on the border of the fringing reef on the side of the channel or when there is none, at the frontier between fringing and barrier reef, b) on the barrier reef at 200m away from the breaking waves of the reef crest, c) on the outer slope by 10m depth.
13 Marine Areas x 3 zones for each marine area (i.e. 39 zones) x 3 stations per zone (replicates) amounts to 117 stations. Each station is materialised by a non permanent transect (25m straight line).

In each station, five "descriptive" communities are surveyed along the transect: MPA substrate cover, MPA fish assessment, MPA benthic invertebrates.