The Cook Islands is rolling out an eight-week national consultation on a ten-year Tuna Management and Development Plan (TMDP) aimed at boosting economic returns, expanding stakeholder engagement, and shaping a sustainable future for the country’s tuna fisheries. The first sessions are taking place in the most remote communities of te pa enua Tokerau, with meetings in Motutapu and Omoka on Penrhyn to kick things off.
From Penrhyn, the tour will travel through Manihiki and Pukapuka before turning to Aitutaki for Southern group visits. Rarotonga meetings are scheduled for September. The open-invite sessions will share scientific and policy updates, invite community questions, and gather insights from both artisanal and commercial sectors that rely on tuna fisheries for livelihoods.
MMR Secretary Pamela Maru led the first public session in Tetautua (Motutapu) this week and described the draft plan as a “living document” that will evolve with ongoing feedback. The ministry is coordinating with island councils, Aronga mana, church leaders, and a broad cross-section of stakeholders—including fishers, youth, women, and the private sector—to ensure local voices help shape the plan and its priorities.
Joining the discussions is Dr Steven Hare, a fisheries scientist from the Pacific Community, with drafting and technical support provided by the Forum Fisheries Agency and the Australian Fisheries Management Authority. The plan addresses climate change, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and bycatch management, while seeking to raise the value of the tuna fishery and support livelihoods across the country.
“We began in Penrhyn and the northern Pa Enua because most of our tuna fishing happens in the north,” Maru said. “The strong community interest shows how much Cook Islanders care about sustainably managing this resource and unlocking economic opportunities.”
The tuna fishery currently yields about one hundred tonnes annually for local consumption, a baseline the plan aims to grow. In Penrhyn, discussions have explored in-port transshipment and observer roles as potential new economic avenues, with island mayor Rangitava Taia welcoming the talks as a crucial step toward opportunities unique to his people and toward highlighting existing support for artisanal and emerging commercial opportunities in tuna fisheries.
Maru emphasized that the plan is forward-looking and firmly rooted in Cook Islands’ sovereignty: “We’re developing a plan that is shaped by input from Cook Islanders and adaptive to the needs and sovereign interests of the Cook Islands. We’ve only just begun the consultation process, but what we’ve heard is already guiding us toward a plan that prioritizes sustainability, economic benefit, and a strong role for the Cook Islands in the regional fishery and global tuna supply chain.”
Context and outlook
The Cook Islands’ consultation comes amid broader Pacific regional efforts to manage tuna stocks and related marine resources through science-based, inclusive approaches. Regional discussions and statements from Pacific leaders have stressed the importance of engaging scientists, fisheries experts, and local communities to ensure informed decisions that balance economic potential with environmental protection. The ongoing conversations around seabed minerals and tuna resources across the region underscore a shared objective: sustainable use that safeguards ecosystems while delivering tangible benefits to communities.
Key implications
– A participatory, adaptive framework that incorporates local realities and sovereignty.
– Potential for job creation and increased value capture within the tuna supply chain, including possibilities like in-port transshipment and observer programs.
– Strong emphasis on climate resilience, enforcement against illegal fishing, and responsible bycatch management.
Notes for readers
– Sessions are scheduled to progress from Penrhyn to other northern Pa Enua communities, then to Aitutaki and Rarotonga, with further dates to be announced.
– The plan’s “living document” approach means ongoing revisions as communities provide feedback and new data emerge.
Positive takeaway
The Cook Islands’ approach showcases a commitment to inclusive dialogue and evidence-based decision-making, aiming to grow economic opportunities from tuna while protecting the resource for future generations. By foregrounding local voices and regional collaboration, the initiative holds promise for a sustainable and prosperous future for Cook Islanders and their ocean economy.
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