The Cook Islands National Environment Service recognises the importance of the environment to the people of the Cook Islands. Our cultural identity is deeply rooted in our environment and it is a part of our heritage and legacy that must be passed on to future generations of Cook Islanders. As caretakers of the land, we must take pride in its natural beauty and it is critical to ensure that we work now to protect and conserve this precious resource. With careful nurturing, conservation and sound management we can achieve sustainable development while protecting our environmental, social and cultural heritage.
License
The Cook Islands in the Marae Moana Amendment Act 2026 under Section 24 stipulates that a marine protected area of 50 nautical miles (measured from each coastline) is established around all islands of the Cook islands. This equates to a total of 324,000 square kilometres.
The purpose of this marine protected area is to protect the pelagic, benthic, coral reef, coastal, and lagoon habitats of the marae moana and, accordingly, all seabed minerals activities and large-scale commercial fishing in the area are prohibited, but other ecologically sustainable uses are permitted.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Cook Islands National Environment Service, International Union for Nature Conservation (IUCN) |
| Modified | |
| Release Date | |
| Identifier | 0a0b29fd-fe8a-408c-a8fa-5cc0e9b6e0df |
| Spatial / Geographical Coverage Location | Cook Islands |
| Relevant Countries | Cook Islands |
| License |
SPREP Private Licence
![[Open Data]](https://assets.okfn.org/images/ok_buttons/od_80x15_blue.png)
|
| Author | Cook Islands National Environment Service |
| Contact Name | Maria Tuoro |
| Contact Email | maria.tuoro@cookislands.gov.ck |