Boost For Cook Islands Fishing Industry

GOVERNMENT OF THE COOK ISLANDS OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
P.O. Box 26, Maire Nui Drive, Rarotonga, Cook Islands. Telephone: (682) 29030;
Facsimile: (682) 29056; Email: rwigmore@oyster.net.ck

Boost For Cook Islands Fishing Industry

MEDIA RELEASE

22 December 2009

The local fishing industry gets a hands up to help overcome the current slump it’s experiencing and decline in fish stocks in southern group waters with a reduction in annual licensing fees.

The revised license fee structure means that vessels less than 20 metres which are based in Rarotonga or Aitutaki will now pay $2,000 for a one year license – down from $5,000.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Marine Resources Robert Wigmore has approved for licensing fees to be slashed by over half in response to representations from the local fishing industry for a review.

“I am aware that the fishing industry is experiencing the ongoing effects of the recent recession, and the detrimental impacts that inflated operating costs continue to have on our local small boat owners,” said Minister Wigmore.

“The government has a responsibility to help ensure the survival of the fishing industry during these tough times; we can assist our small boat owners by lowering the licensing fees that they pay each year.”

Minister Wigmore said government needs to help those already established in the fishing business and are finding difficulty, “we can do this through revising licensing fees, so that’s the obvious step to take.”

The Minister said the fee structure will be effective immediately, and the Ministry of Marine Resources will advise of any changes will be made to this policy in the following licensing period.

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