Kiribati · Spearfishing zone
Cook Island Closed Area (Kiritimati)
What this zone is
Overview
How spearfishing is treated at Cook Island Closed Area (Kiritimati).
Cook Island is a 19 ha sand/coral islet inside the Kiritimati (Christmas Island) lagoon that divides the Burgle/Bridges Channel (the lagoon's main entrance) into a northern and southern entrance, and holds a large seabird colony. Kiritimati was declared a wildlife sanctuary in May 1975 (Wildlife Conservation Ordinance) and access to five sensitive areas, including Cook Island, is restricted/closed to protect breeding seabirds. This lies within the otherwise sport-fishing Kiritimati lagoon, so spearfishers must avoid this closed area. Coordinate is an approximate center near the lagoon entrance channel (no published boundary table found).
On the coast
Location
Approximate reference point for this zone. See the full picture on the interactive map.
1.9833°N, 157.4667°W
View on the mapSource
This zone is documented in the official source below.
Before you dive
License for Kiribati
Whether you need a license to spearfish here, and how to get one.
On Kiritimati, pleasure-fishing permits are obtained on arrival at Cassidy International Airport (typically arranged via the lodge). Commercial coastal licences are applied for to the Director, with Ministerial approval and Island Council consultation.
Get your licenseOpens the official portal · mfmrd.gov.ki