Fishing for AnswersFishing for AnswersDDeveloping International Guidelines for Securing

Sustainable Small Scale Fisheries (SSF)

SPC/FAO SPC/FAO Noumea, New CaledoniaNoumea, New Caledonia

12-14 June 201212-14 June 2012Poroa ArokapitiPoroa Arokapiti

Cook Islands Fishing Cook Islands Fishing AssociationAssociation

A bit of Background on the A bit of Background on the Cook Islands Fishing Cook Islands Fishing Association Association

• 2010 our Association incorporated2010 our Association incorporated• Members are: Members are: Mangaia Fishing Association, Mauke Mangaia Fishing Association, Mauke

Island Fishing, Atiu Island Fishing, Mitiaro island Fishing, Island Fishing, Atiu Island Fishing, Mitiaro island Fishing, Aitutaki Fishing, Palmerston Fishing, Penrhyn Fishing, Aitutaki Fishing, Palmerston Fishing, Penrhyn Fishing, Pukapuka Fishing, Nassau Fishing, Rakahanga Fishing, Pukapuka Fishing, Nassau Fishing, Rakahanga Fishing, Manihiki Fishing, Cook Islands Game Fishing Association, Manihiki Fishing, Cook Islands Game Fishing Association, Avana Fishing, Tupapa Fishing, Avatiu FishingAvana Fishing, Tupapa Fishing, Avatiu Fishing

• Main Aim: to represent our fishers in Main Aim: to represent our fishers in policy, planning and development forums policy, planning and development forums in the country and regionally.in the country and regionally.

The Cook Islands Fishing The Cook Islands Fishing IndustryIndustry

• MMR is mandated to look after the interests of our MMR is mandated to look after the interests of our people in relation to all marine resources activities people in relation to all marine resources activities and developmentsand developments

• They are guided by the word sustainable. Any They are guided by the word sustainable. Any programs they develop or manage must be programs they develop or manage must be sustainable and beneficial to the Cook Islands peoplesustainable and beneficial to the Cook Islands people

• Fishing is the second largest contributor to economic Fishing is the second largest contributor to economic growth in our country after tourism. Average annual growth in our country after tourism. Average annual contribution about $20mcontribution about $20m

• Small fisher and game fishing estimated contribution Small fisher and game fishing estimated contribution to country growth (2011) $5.5m to country growth (2011) $5.5m

Cont’Cont’

Three major fisheries operating in our waters:Three major fisheries operating in our waters:• The longline fisheries. One in the The longline fisheries. One in the

South/mainly from local longliners. Then South/mainly from local longliners. Then there is one that is allowed to operate in the there is one that is allowed to operate in the North/mainly foreign fishing vesselsNorth/mainly foreign fishing vessels

• We have subsistence and artisanal fishing We have subsistence and artisanal fishing throughout all the islandsthroughout all the islands

• Exclusive fisheries such as bonefishing, and Exclusive fisheries such as bonefishing, and game fishing in the tourist islandsgame fishing in the tourist islands

In recent timesIn recent times

• Our fishers have been complaining about catch Our fishers have been complaining about catch getting lessgetting less

• A study was conducted and found that this A study was conducted and found that this complaint may be due to two things – foreign complaint may be due to two things – foreign boats fishing in our waters…and the weather boats fishing in our waters…and the weather changeschanges

• We can’t afford to lose fishing activities for our We can’t afford to lose fishing activities for our subsistence and artisanal fishers because subsistence and artisanal fishers because (especially for the northern Cooks) this is (especially for the northern Cooks) this is sometimes their only source of proteinsometimes their only source of protein

What we want to doWhat we want to do• Work with MMR to continue deploying FADs throughout Work with MMR to continue deploying FADs throughout

our islands for our small fishersour islands for our small fishers• Develop a relationship with Government to subsidise fuel Develop a relationship with Government to subsidise fuel

to our fishers so that it is not expensive to fish for foodto our fishers so that it is not expensive to fish for food• Manage the numbers of foreign fishing licenses at a Manage the numbers of foreign fishing licenses at a

sustainable level and to make sure they are not purse sustainable level and to make sure they are not purse seiningseining

• Improve the storage of fish in our islands and fishing Improve the storage of fish in our islands and fishing techniques and activities that add value to the fishing techniques and activities that add value to the fishing efforteffort

• Improve the safety of our fishers to avoid loss at seaImprove the safety of our fishers to avoid loss at sea

What the outcomes of this What the outcomes of this meeting can help us do?meeting can help us do?

• Encourage our Marine Resource agencies to continue to Encourage our Marine Resource agencies to continue to deploy FADs to keep our local fishers fishing close to deploy FADs to keep our local fishers fishing close to their homes and safety and to increase catch for home their homes and safety and to increase catch for home and incomeand income

• Support our effort to seek support for cheaper fuel to Support our effort to seek support for cheaper fuel to our fishers in the islandsour fishers in the islands

• Encourage your Marine Resource counterparts to make Encourage your Marine Resource counterparts to make sure they are not giving licenses to purse seine boatssure they are not giving licenses to purse seine boats

• Help us with storage of fish and techniques of fishingHelp us with storage of fish and techniques of fishing• Help us obtain the proper safety gear for our fishers to Help us obtain the proper safety gear for our fishers to

avoid loss at seaavoid loss at sea

Meitaki maataMeitaki maata• On behalf of the President and executive of On behalf of the President and executive of

the Cook Islands Fishing Association I the Cook Islands Fishing Association I extend my sincere appreciation to SPC for extend my sincere appreciation to SPC for inviting us (me) to attend this important inviting us (me) to attend this important meeting and we pray that our discussion in meeting and we pray that our discussion in these days will bear fruit to help our fishers these days will bear fruit to help our fishers in our islands…in our islands…

• KIA ORANA E KIA MANUIAKIA ORANA E KIA MANUIA