Photo: Goergia Langdon
Our Work:
The Aquaculture and Inshore Fisheries Deparment provides a fully integrated approach to all fisheries management other than commercial offshore fisheries. It covers both subsistence and commercial inshore fishing, and
conservation and economic development of fish stocks.
The conservation of the resource in healthy ecosystems is managed through extensive monitoring of water quality and marine resources, as well as providing technical support to traditional conservation methods such as
ra'ui. An ecosystems-based approach to fisheries management is being progressively adopted to meet the dual obligations of economic development and sustainable resource management.
Conservation is supplemented by the deployment of fish aggregating devices (FADs) under the Cook Islands FAD Programme, which increase food security and rural incomes, and relieve pressure on reef resources.
Aquaculture also offers the opportunity to improve livelihoods without depleting resources.
Two Fisheries Officers work under the Division Director at the Avarua Headquarters along with an intern. Staff that report to this division include three Fisheries Officers based at the Fisheries Development & Extension Unit at
Avatiu Harbour; three Fisheries Officers at the Araura (Aitutaki) Marine Research Centre; and Fisheries Officers in Mangaia, Mitiaro, Mauke, Atiu, Nassau, and Pukapuka (3).
Key Objectives:
- Improve income generating opportunities for private sector particularly in the Outer Islands through increased provision of assistance to allow small scale fisheries opportunities and to develop new local commercial
export fisheries.
- Ensure safe, sustainable fishing and conservation practises, the protection of culture and tradition and long term food security.
- Respond to outbreaks of COT (Crown of Thorns), HAB, ciguatera and any occurrences of CB (coral bleaching).
- Distribute project funding assistance to stakeholders through the Fisheries Development Facility (FDF) to develop domestic fisheries.
Programmes:
- Conducting marine resources assessments and monitoring of key inshore fishery resources.
- Developing a national trochus and sea cucumber regulation.
- Conducting ecological monitoring at Ra'ui sites.
- Assisting the island harvests for giant clam (pa'ua) through harvest quota and controls with focus on Manihiki and Penrhyn, Aitutaki
- AMRC (Araura Marine Research Centre) programme, focussing on giant clams spawning and potential aquaculture research other species such as shrimp and milkfish.
- Supporting marine eco-tourism activities.
- Supporting key stakeholders groups and management bodies including the Cook Islands Fishing Association (CIFA) and Aitutaki Bonefish Management Committee (ABMC).
