Cook Islands ban fishing to conserve whales
The Cook Islands in the South Pacific have banned commercial fishing within a 50 nautical mile radius of the islands in an attempt to protect whales. In addition to the ban, the Cook Islands have declared their Exclusive Economic Zone a marine park. The region already has a prohibition on potential sea bed mineral activity within 50 nautical miles of the islands.

Please subscribe to access premium content.

The Cook Islands ban placed on commercial fishing last month within 50 nautical miles of the nation was highlighted at the Whales in a Changing Ocean conference opening yesterday in Nuku’alofa. Cook Islands Minister of Environment, Hon Kiriau Turepu stressed that the ban is to reduce the interaction between commercial fishing and whales in their waters.