Cook Islands Fisheries Resources Profiles: research and information division, Cook Islands Ministry of Marine Resources

Abstract

Cook Islands is composed of 15 islands with a total land area of approximately 23,600ha. which fall naturally into northern and southern groups. The total population at the 1991 census was 18,552, the overwhelming majority of whom live in the southern group, principally on Rarotonga. The area of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is over 1.8 million square kilometres. Though the recent rapid development of a black pearl industry in Cook Islands has been impressive, in general terms the marine resources in Cook Islands' EEZ have yet to be fully developed. Fisheries and marine resources are predominantly utilised by Cook Islanders on a subsistence and artisanal basis. Responsibility for these resources is vested in the (Minister) Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR), headquartered at Avatiu, Rarotonga. Outer islands with fisheries personnel are Pukapuka, Manihiki, Aitutaki, Penrhyn, Palmerston, Mitiaro, and occasionally, Mangaia.