Fishing for Answers
Developing International Guidelines
for Securing Sustainable Small Scale
Fisheries (SSF)
SPC/FAO
Noumea, New Caledonia
12-14 June 2012
Poroa Arokapiti
Cook Islands Fishing
Association
A bit of Background on the Cook
Islands Fishing Association
• 2010 our Association incorporated
• Members are: Mangaia Fishing Association, Mauke
Island Fishing, Atiu Island Fishing, Mitiaro island Fishing,
Aitutaki Fishing, Palmerston Fishing, Penrhyn Fishing,
Pukapuka Fishing, Nassau Fishing, Rakahanga Fishing,
Manihiki Fishing, Cook Islands Game Fishing Association,
Avana Fishing, Tupapa Fishing, Avatiu Fishing
• Main Aim: to represent our fishers in
policy, planning and development forums
in the country and regionally.
The Cook Islands Fishing Industry
• MMR is mandated to look after the interests of
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our people in relation to all marine resources
activities and developments
They are guided by the word sustainable. Any
programs they develop or manage must be
sustainable and beneficial to the Cook Islands
people
Fishing is the second largest contributor to
economic growth in our country after tourism.
Average annual contribution about $20m
Small fisher and game fishing estimated
Cont’
Three major fisheries operating in our
waters:
• The longline fisheries. One in the
South/mainly from local longliners. Then
there is one that is allowed to operate in
the North/mainly foreign fishing vessels
• We have subsistence and artisanal fishing
throughout all the islands
• Exclusive fisheries such as bonefishing,
In recent times
• Our fishers have been complaining about
catch getting less
• A study was conducted and found that this
complaint may be due to two things –
foreign boats fishing in our waters…and
the weather changes
• We can’t afford to lose fishing activities for
our subsistence and artisanal fishers
because (especially for the northern
What we want to do
• Work with MMR to continue deploying FADs
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throughout our islands for our small fishers
Develop a relationship with Government to
subsidise fuel to our fishers so that it is not
expensive to fish for food
Manage the numbers of foreign fishing licenses
at a sustainable level and to make sure they are
not purse seining
Improve the storage of fish in our islands and
fishing techniques and activities that add value
to the fishing effort
What the outcomes of this meeting
can help us do?
• Encourage our Marine Resource agencies to
continue to deploy FADs to keep our local fishers
fishing close to their homes and safety and to
increase catch for home and income
• Support our effort to seek support for cheaper fuel
to our fishers in the islands
• Encourage your Marine Resource counterparts to
make sure they are not giving licenses to purse
seine boats
• Help us with storage of fish and techniques of
fishing
Meitaki maata
• On behalf of the President and executive
of the Cook Islands Fishing Association I
extend my sincere appreciation to SPC for
inviting us (me) to attend this important
meeting and we pray that our discussion
in these days will bear fruit to help our
fishers in our islands…
• KIA ORANA E KIA MANUIA