The marine space between a legal pluralism and the preservation of heritage in Henua ‘Enana / Fenua ‘Enata (Marquesas Islands) [L’espace marin entre un pluralisme juridique et la sauvegarde du patrimoine à Henua ‘Enana / Fenua ‘Enata (îles Marquises)] [Lo spazio marino tra pluralismo giuridico e tutela del patrimonio a Henua ‘Enana / Fenua ‘Enata (Isole Marchesi)]

In this contribution, the marine space in the Marquesas Islands (Henua ‘Enana / Fenua ‘Enata) is addressed by reflecting on the recent processes of heritage-making and “sustainable development” projects promoted in recent years by the political authorities and cultural elites of the archipelago. In short, an attempt will be made to highlight how the centrality of the sea is linked to a concern for island spaces and species and a need to preserve human activities and the cultural elements associated with them. To this regard, projects for the inscription of some land and sea zones to UNESCO, the construction of the great Aire Marine Protégée (AMP), and finally the regulation of fishing entrusted to the “rahui/kahui” on the island of Ua Huka will be discussed. In the attempt to promote an environmentally sustainable development on a community scale, such “heritage-making initiatives concerning the sea” are part of a “legal pluralism” that articulates the international legislation with the “systems of tradition”.