Basic Information on the Marine Resources of the Cook Islands

Abstract

The Cook Islands consists of 15 islands that extend over 1,500 kilometres of ocean in a north-south direction. The country is located between 156° and 167°W longitude and between 8° and 23°S latitude (central Polynesia), and has a 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 1,830,000 square kilometres. The 15 islands have a total land area of 237 square kilometres. The largest island is Rarotonga (67 square kilometres). The islands of the northern group are coral atolls as is Manuae in the southern group. The rest of the southern group islands, Mauke, Mitiaro, Mangaia, and Atiu are raised islands with encircling reef platforms adjacent to the coast. Aitutaki is part volcanic island and part atoll, with an enclosed lagoon. Rarotonga is a volcanic island with a narrow fringing reef.