Cook Islands
Oceania · Polynesia
Recreational spearfishing is legal in the Cook Islands and there is no national law that bans non-residents from spearfishing, but it is regulated and culturally sensitive. Fisheries are governed by the Marine Resources Act 2005, administered by the Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR), with the whole EEZ designated as the Marae Moana marine park under the Marae Moana Act 2017 (50 nautical mile zones around each island restrict large-scale commercial fishing, not artisanal/recreational take). The key practical restrictions are: (1) numerous 'ra'ui' (traditional no-take/no-fishing reserves) on Rarotonga, Aitutaki and the outer islands where all fishing, including spearfishing, is prohibited; (2) the use of SCUBA while spearfishing is banned on most islands (notably Aitutaki); and (3) reef-fish consumption is dangerous because of widespread ciguatera, so reef spearfishing is strongly discouraged by local operators. Spearfishing by visitors is legally tolerated but socially frowned upon; dive companies do not rent spear equipment or permit spearing on SCUBA dives. Bluewater (offshore pelagic) spearfishing is the form most commonly practised.
Ostatnia aktualizacja czerwiec 16, 2026
Ramy prawne
- §Marine Resources Act 2005 (No. 7 of 2005)
- §Marae Moana Act 2017 (No. 10 of 2017)
- §Environment Act 2003 (No. 22 of 2003)
- §Ra'ui (customary traditional no-take reserves; no formal statutory basis on Rarotonga, managed by the Koutu Nui / Aronga Mana)
- Wymagana licencja
- Wymagana
- Kusza
- Dozwolony
- Akwalung
- Zabroniony
- Obcokrajowcy
- Mile widziani
Prawo, dosłownie
Teksty prawne
Dokładne przepisy ustawowe i wykonawcze regulujące łowiectwo podwodne w tym miejscu, zacytowane w opublikowanej formie, z linkiem do każdego oficjalnego źródła.
Definition of 'fish' (includes turtles and marine mammals)
Marine Resources Act 2005 (No. 7 of 2005)
"Fish" means any aquatic plant or animal, whether piscine or not, and includes any turtle and marine mammal.
Legal status of ra'ui (traditional no-take fishing reserves)
Ra'ui in the Cook Islands - today's context in Rarotonga (Tiraa, A.), SPC Traditional Marine Resource Management and Knowledge Information Bulletin #19, April 2006
There is no legal basis for the ra'ui. Rather they rely on respect for traditional authority (Reid undated). Any poaching is assumed to be dealt with by rebuke and community pressure. The main purpose of the ra'ui is to help protect the marine environment, and to contribute towards an increase in marine life for present and future generations (Passfield and Tiraa 1998).
Ra'ui as a no-take / partial-take fishing closure
Ra'ui in the Cook Islands - today's context in Rarotonga (Tiraa, A.), SPC Traditional Marine Resource Management and Knowledge Information Bulletin #19, April 2006
As ra'ui areas range from about 300 to 800 m in width it was explained that fishers could continue to fish outside the ra'ui areas. ... This resulted in the number of ra'ui increasing to a maximum number of 12. Each ra'ui differs in its execution. Some are short-term involving rotational closures of nearby sites, some are long term, while others involve no or partial take. The management measures for ra'ui sites are continually evolving; for example, part of the Tikioki ra'ui has now been permanently reserved (ra'ui mutukore).
Marine protected area of 50 nautical miles established around all islands; large-scale commercial fishing prohibited
Marae Moana Act 2017 (No. 10 of 2017)
24 Marine protected area established (1) A marine protected area of 50 nautical miles (measured from each coastline and as shown in Schedule 1) is established around all islands of the Cook Islands as follows— (a) the outer limit of the area is a line measured seaward from the baseline of the territorial sea described in section 5 of the Territorial Sea and Exclusive Economic Zone Act 1977, every point of which is 50 nautical miles from the nearest point of the baseline: (b) the area includes the territorial sea described in section 3 of that Act: (c) that part of the area lying outside the territorial sea is part of the exclusive economic zone described in section 8 of that Act. (2) The purpose of the marine protected area established by subsection (1) 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.
Designation of protected areas (including marine/lagoon habitats) by Island Environment Authorities
Environment Act 2003 (No. 22 of 2003)
41. Protected Areas - (1) Where an Island Environment Authority proposes to designate an area within its island having ecological, cultural, archaeological, historical or scenic importance as a protected area for the purpose of environment and natural resource conservation and management (including protection, conservation and management of animals and plants and their habitats), the Island Environment Authority may cause to be issued in respect of that area a notification to that effect in accordance with the procedure set out in this section.
Kiedy możesz nurkować
Sezony i ograniczenia czasowe
Okresy ochronne, otwarte i z ograniczeniami w ciągu roku. Zawsze potwierdzaj lokalnie zamknięcia dotyczące konkretnych gatunków.
Nie odnotowano okresów ochronnych — sprawdź lokalnie, zanim zanurkujesz.
Pozwolenie na łowienie
Licencja
Czego potrzebujesz, by móc wejść do wody, ile to kosztuje i jak to zdobyć.
Aitutaki: from the Cook Islands Tourism Office in Arutanga and the Araura Marine Research Centre near the airport. Rarotonga: no licence required for general fishing.
Zdobądź licencjęOtwiera oficjalny portal · cookislandspocketguide.com
- Typ
- Location-dependent: no general recreational/spearfishing licence on Rarotonga, but a lagoon fishing licence is required to fish within the Aitutaki Lagoon (deep-sea/offshore fishing exempt)
- Koszt
- Aitutaki lagoon fishing licence: NZ$10 (1 day), NZ$50 (1 week), NZ$80 (2 weeks), NZ$500 (lifetime). Deep-sea/offshore fishing is exempt.
- Ważność
- Per Aitutaki tariff: 1 day / 1 week / 2 weeks / lifetime.
- Jak uzyskać
- Aitutaki: from the Cook Islands Tourism Office in Arutanga and the Araura Marine Research Centre near the airport. Rarotonga: no licence required for general fishing.
- Organ
- Cook Islands Tourism / Aitutaki Island authorities; Ministry of Marine Resources for fisheries matters
Sprzęt i technika
Zasady dotyczące sprzętu
Jaki sprzęt jest dozwolony, jak może być używany i jakie warunki są z tym związane.
Ograniczenia
- Use of SCUBA while spearfishing is banned on most islands, notably Aitutaki.
- Dive companies do not rent spearfishing equipment and do not allow spearfishing on SCUBA dives.
- Spearguns and Hawaiian slings can be bought locally (e.g. dive shop in Avarua town); some reports of restrictions/uncertainty on selling to or importing for tourists.
Speargun and Hawaiian sling use is permitted in principle for free-diving/snorkelling spearfishing outside reserves. SCUBA-assisted spearfishing is prohibited. Reef spearfishing is strongly discouraged because of ciguatera; bluewater spearfishing of pelagics is the safe and common practice.
Co możesz złowić
Limity połowowe i gatunki chronione
Dzienne limity, minimalne rozmiary oraz gatunki, których nigdy nie wolno łowić.
Limit dzienny
unknown
Gatunki chronione — nie łowić
- ChronionyTurtles and marine mammals (included within the statutory definition of 'fish' and protected under the Marine Resources Act 2005 framework)
No specific recreational spearfishing daily bag limits or finfish size limits were retrievable from authoritative online sources during research. The Marine Resources Act 2005 enables conservation measures and species protection; the Ministry of Marine Resources should be consulted for current inshore size/bag limits (e.g. on trochus, sea cucumber, clams). Reef fish are widely affected by ciguatera and not recommended for consumption.
Kto może łowić
Goście i mieszkańcy
Czym różnią się zasady dla zagranicznych gości i lokalnych mieszkańców.
Zagraniczni goście
DozwoloneWymagania
- On Aitutaki, a lagoon fishing licence is required (applies to everyone fishing the lagoon).
- Respect all ra'ui (no-take reserves marked by blue signs).
Ograniczenia
- Spearfishing by non-locals is legal but culturally frowned upon.
- No SCUBA spearfishing.
- Reef spearfishing discouraged due to ciguatera.
- Some uncertainty/restrictions reported on local sale of spearguns to, or importation by, tourists.
Forum guidance: 'There is no law stopping non-locals from spearfishing however it is frowned upon' and 'None of the dive companies rent spear fishing equipment or allow spear fishing on scuba dives.' Visitors have reportedly brought their own spearguns and spearfished without issue, but should respect local norms and ra'ui.
Mieszkańcy
No general spearfishing licence for residents on Rarotonga; Aitutaki lagoon licence applies to lagoon fishing.
Wymagania
- Observe ra'ui reserves declared by traditional leaders (Koutu Nui / Aronga Mana).
- On Aitutaki, hold a lagoon fishing licence to fish the lagoon.
Korzyści
- Artisanal and subsistence reef/lagoon fishing is permitted within the Marae Moana 50 nm zones (outside ra'ui).
Local artisanal/subsistence take is recognised; ra'ui are enforced primarily through traditional authority and community pressure rather than statute.
Gdzie na wybrzeżu
Strefy dozwolone i zabronione
Nazwane obszary otwarte lub zamknięte dla łowiectwa podwodnego. Zobacz pełny obraz na interaktywnej mapie.
Obszary dozwolone
Open-ocean pelagic spearfishing for tuna, mahimahi, wahoo and marlin around FADs miles offshore in deep water. This is the form of spearfishing commonly practised and offered by local operators; reef/lagoon spearfishing is avoided due to ciguatera. Coordinates are the island centre (approximate) for reference.
Experienced bluewater hunters only; bring own equipment. Outside ra'ui reserves and the 50 nm large-scale commercial fishing restriction zone (artisanal/recreational take permitted).
Obszary zabronione
- Aroa (Aro'a) Lagoon Marine Reserve (ra'ui)marine reserve (traditional ra'ui, no-take)
Permanent marine reserve / ra'ui on the south-west coast of Rarotonga. Aro'a Lagoon was placed under a permanent no-fishing ban (ra'ui mutu kore). All fishing including spearfishing is prohibited. Marked on shore by a blue 'ra'ui' sign.
- Tikioki Marine Reserve (ra'ui), Titikavekamarine reserve (traditional ra'ui, no-take)
Permanent marine reserve / ra'ui on the south coast of Rarotonga at Titikaveka, opposite 'The Fruits of Rarotonga'. Part of the Tikioki ra'ui is permanently reserved (ra'ui mutukore). All fishing, including spearfishing, is prohibited.
- Nikao ra'uimarine reserve (traditional ra'ui)
Ra'ui reserve on Rarotonga (Nikao area). Subject to fishing closure; rotational/periodic harvest has been permitted (e.g. a 2000 trochus harvest came from the Nikao ra'ui). Fishing/spearfishing prohibited while the ra'ui is in force.
- Pouara ra'ui (east side of Rarotonga)marine reserve (traditional ra'ui)
Ra'ui reserve on the east side of Rarotonga. Traditional leaders sought legal recognition for it under by-laws. Fishing/spearfishing prohibited while in force.
- Rarotonga ra'ui network (Koutu Nui-managed reserves)marine reserve network (traditional ra'ui, no-take/partial-take)
A network of up to 12 ra'ui has been declared around Rarotonga's lagoon and reef slope (initially five areas declared in 1998), ranging from about 300 to 800 m wide; some permanent (ra'ui mutukore), some seasonal/rotational. Areas are marked by blue 'ra'ui' signs on shore. All fishing, including spearfishing, is banned inside active ra'ui. Check current locations with the Tourism office or WWF in Rarotonga.
- Aitutaki ra'ui reservesmarine reserve (traditional ra'ui) / regulated lagoon
Aitutaki has multiple ra'ui reserves in its lagoon where fishing is prohibited, plus a lagoon-fishing permit system. SCUBA spearfishing is banned on Aitutaki. A lagoon fishing licence is required to fish within Aitutaki Lagoon.
- Marae Moana 50-nautical-mile marine protected area (around all islands)multiple-use marine protected area
Section 24 of the Marae Moana Act 2017 establishes a marine protected area of 50 nautical miles, measured from each coastline, around all islands of the Cook Islands. Within it all seabed minerals activities and large-scale commercial fishing are prohibited, but other ecologically sustainable uses (including artisanal, subsistence and recreational take outside ra'ui) are permitted. This is a large-scale-commercial restriction, not a ban on recreational spearfishing.
Warunki na wodzie
Warunki na żywo
Migawka warunków morskich i pogodowych na żywo w pobliżu nadmorskiego punktu odniesienia w kraju Cook Islands, od Open-Meteo. Warunki różnią się wzdłuż wybrzeża — traktuj orientacyjnie.
Warunki morskie i pogodowe na żywo w pobliżu Offshore / bluewater zone around Rarotonga (Fish Aggregating Devices).
Do kogo się zwrócić
Władze
Oficjalne organy odpowiedzialne za rybołówstwo i licencje.
Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR)
fisheries authority
mmr.gov.ckAvarua, Rarotonga, Cook IslandsNational Environment Service (Tu'anga Taporoporo)
environment agency
environment.gov.ckRarotonga, Cook IslandsMarae Moana Coordination Office
marine park authority
maraemoana.gov.ckOffice of the Prime Minister, Rarotonga, Cook IslandsKoutu Nui / Aronga Mana (traditional leaders)
traditional authority (manage ra'ui)
Rarotonga, Cook IslandsCook Islands Tourism (licensing point for Aitutaki lagoon)
tourism authority
cookislands.travelArutanga, Aitutaki; Avarua, Rarotonga
Skąd to pochodzi
Źródła
Każde stwierdzenie na tej stronie odsyła do jednego z tych odniesień.
- [01]
Marine Resources Act 2005 (No. 7 of 2005) - ECOLEX legislation record
Oficjalneecolex.orgDostęp cze 15 - [02]
Marine Resources Act 2005 (No. 7 of 2005) - full text PDF (Cook Islands Parliament)
Oficjalneparliament.gov.ckDostęp cze 15 - [03]
Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) - Legislation page
Oficjalnemmr.gov.ckDostęp cze 15 - [04]
Ra'ui in the Cook Islands - today's context in Rarotonga (Tiraa, A.), SPC Traditional Marine Resource Management and Knowledge Information Bulletin #19, April 2006
Oficjalnecoastfish.spc.intDostęp cze 16 - [05]
Marae Moana Act 2017 (No. 10 of 2017) - full text PDF (Marae Moana Coordination Office, Office of the Prime Minister)
Oficjalnemaraemoana.gov.ckDostęp cze 16 - [06]
Environment Act 2003 (No. 22 of 2003) - full text PDF (FAOLEX)
Oficjalnefaolex.fao.orgDostęp cze 16 - [07]
The Ultimate Guide to Fishing in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands - Cook Islands Pocket Guide (ra'ui reserves, Aitutaki licence)
Wtórnecookislandspocketguide.comDostęp cze 15 - [08]
Bluewater spearfishing in Rarotonga - Adventure Cook Islands (offshore spearfishing, ciguatera, no reef spearfishing)
Wtórneadventurecookislands.comDostęp cze 15 - [09]
Spearfishing - Cook Islands Forum, Tripadvisor (no law against non-locals; SCUBA spearfishing not allowed by dive shops)
communitytripadvisor.co.nzDostęp cze 15
Notatki badacza
Confidence is medium. Verbatim primary-law provisions now cited from official full-text PDFs: section 24 of the Marae Moana Act 2017 (50-nautical-mile marine protected area around all islands; large-scale commercial fishing and seabed minerals activities prohibited, other ecologically sustainable uses permitted), and section 41 of the Environment Act 2003 (Island Environment Authorities may designate protected areas). The statutory definition of 'fish' is from the ECOLEX/FAOLEX record of the Marine Resources Act 2005. The full text of the Marine Resources Act 2005 itself is published only as a scanned/image PDF (parliament.gov.ck and FAOLEX) with no extractable text layer, so machine-readable verbatim sections on fishing methods, spearfishing, SCUBA, and size/bag limits could not be extracted; those rules below are therefore sourced to secondary/community references and the MMR should be consulted for the authoritative wording. The two SPC Tiraa (2006) ra'ui quotes and the Tikioki/Nikao/Pouara/network ra'ui descriptions were re-verified word-for-word against the source PDF (coastfish.spc.int/News/Trad/19/Tiraa.pdf), retrieved 2026-06-16; that source returns HTTP 403 to some automated fetchers but is publicly accessible. Ra'ui (traditional no-take reserves) on Rarotonga (up to ~12, e.g. Aro'a, Tikioki, Nikao, Pouara) and Aitutaki have no formal statutory basis on Rarotonga (per Tiraa 2006) but are widely observed; respect blue 'ra'ui' shore signs. Practical rules: SCUBA spearfishing banned (notably Aitutaki), no general licence on Rarotonga, Aitutaki lagoon licence required, reef spearfishing strongly discouraged due to ciguatera, bluewater pelagic spearfishing common. Specific recreational finfish size/bag limits were not retrievable online and should be confirmed with the Ministry of Marine Resources. Coordinates given for the offshore zone are the island centre (approximate); precise reserve coordinates were not available from authoritative sources and were not fabricated.
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