Fishermen in the Cook Islands want government intervention to stop foreign vessels coming in and fishing in their waters. By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific Journalist.

It is the low season for fishing, but they say it is not usually as low as this.

“I didn’t catch anything today,” Michael Tou told RNZ Pacific in Rarotonga.

“I’ve been out all morning. It [is] pretty tough.”

Asked how difficult the situation was given it was a low season, he said: “two out of 10”.

Tou said changes in the weather can affect the fish population, but so can outsiders coming in and making it harder for the locals.

“Back in the day, about 25 years ago, we used to just go out here over the reef and catch two, three fish,” he said.

“Now we're going out for five hours, maybe the whole day, [and] come back with no fish.
He said the locals had tried to be supportive of sharing their waters, but “it's just going on all day every day now”.

Dick Masters will turn 70 in November and has been fishing for about four decades.

He said there were good days and bad days, and variables like a change of currents or the water being too warm.

“We fishermen are really struggling now; things are getting harder and harder.

“You are lucky to catch a couple of fish a week - that's how hard and bad it is here now.

He said the fishermen are against foreign fishing boats in their waters, and there have been protests but no one listened to them and nothing changed.

There is a fuel subsidy for local fishermen, but more is needed, he said.

“The fuel is really our killer,” he said, adding so is the impact of climate change.

Papa Ina Kaikura, 74, has a big family to feed.

Kaikura's wife, Taina, is in New Zealand, she is on dialysis.

He said there has been a clear change after foreign fishing licence were approved.

"The Chinese vessels started taking our fish."

"They [government] shouldn't have given the license in the first place," he said.

"Before when they didn't give the license you could get heaps of fish. Now we only get a small one.

He claims Cook Islands authorities "don't care" about the local fishermen and "just want money".

The Fresh Fish Company, which works with several small-time local fishermen in Rarotonga, has noted the decline in fish supply with every passing year.

“Traditionally the winter months are known for low fish stock of yellowfin tuna, which is the main staple of ocean-fish caught within our waters,” the company's owner Tim Vaikai said.

“But our older fishermen also note that these months should also traditionally bring in other forms of fish.”

The continued decline of supply could be the result of the change of El Nina and El Nino weather is what they have been told, he said.

Vaikai said another thought was there was over-fishing just outside of the Cooks' Exclusive Economic Zone, which means the route these migratory fish take could be interrupted.

“The Fresh Fish Company does not have any conclusive stand on this matter. We only take note of the data given to us.”

Vaikai said the local ministry will say there was no connection between the foreign fishing vessels and lower fish stock, and the Fresh Fish Company has no position on that.

“Our local Ministry of Marine Resources does provide the occasional grants for local fishermen which helps with purchases of assets.

“They have also provided us information on the need to adapt fishing methods due to climate change.”

He said fixing the underlying issue - whatever it is - was something that may still need to be addressed.

However, for Tou, it is reaching a point where fishermen were contemplating further protest to be heard.

“It’s about time for us to go up and talk to [government] about this,” Tou said.

“All the other fishermen are going through the same process.”

He said it was a sentiment felt right across the board.

Not all the fishermen RNZ spoke with wanted to speak on the record about their concerns.

Most wanted the government to drop foreign vessel contracts all together.

In his frustration, Tou is inviting Prime Minister Mark Brown on a fishing trip.

“Jump on board. Follow the fishermen and you will know for yourself. Come out and have a look.

“Come out and do something about it. Otherwise, we’re just going to keep going now burning petrol [and] coming back with nothing.

“So, come on Prime Minister," he added.

According to the Cook Islands 2021 Census, almost 40 percent of all private households were engaged in "any type of fishing activity".

The census report said over 90 percent of those engaging in reef or lagoon fishing did it for home consumption.

RNZ has contacted the Cook Islands government for comment.