Environment
Couple make good use of fish waste as fertiliser
Friday 28 February 2014 | Published in Environment
With a defiant grin, Philippe Gontard plunges his arm deep into a blue drum filled with oily, ground-up fish carcasses.
Tuna would fill 10 sports stadiums
Friday 28 February 2014 | Published in Environment
Enough skipjack tuna is being caught in the western and central Pacific Ocean to fill ten sport stadiums worth of canned fish each year, according to a leading scientist.
TIS concerned at ongoing use of FADs
Thursday 27 February 2014 | Published in Environment
An official with local conservation group Te Ipukarea Society is concerned with possible increased use of Fish Aggregation Devices (FADs), following recent news that the Cook Islands has negotiated an expansion to the purse seine fishery.
Protest held at TMV launch
Saturday 22 February 2014 | Published in Environment
A small protest against Te Mato Vai was held Thursday during the water infrastructure project’s launch event.
Fishing licences worth $5m
Friday 21 February 2014 | Published in Environment
Licence fees paid by local and foreign fishing vessels contributed $5 million to the Cook Islands economy last year.
'Ship owners should get a warning'
Friday 21 February 2014 | Published in Environment
Those responsible for the ship which left black patches of soot on the water outside Avatiu Harbour this week should receive a warning, says the National Environment Service.
Smoke settles on water at Panama
Thursday 20 February 2014 | Published in Environment
Plumes of black smoke from a cargo ship settled on the water outside Avatiu Harbour and created what looked like an oil slick on Tuesday.
Keep pets at home to avoid fish poison
Friday 14 February 2014 | Published in Environment
Pet owners are encouraged to watch out for their animals grabbing a fishy snack on the sly, after recent cases of fish poisoning at Esther Honey.
Slash and burn in war on Mauke armyworm
Thursday 13 February 2014 | Published in Environment
Armyworm infested taro patches on Mauke are being slashed, burned and sprayed with biological agents in an effort to bring the outbreak under control and save the root crop.
Auditors assessing eco-certification
Wednesday 12 February 2014 | Published in Environment
Auditors were recently in the Cook Islands undertaking an assessment of the nation’s albacore long line fishery for the purpose of obtaining a globally-recognised standard of sustainability.
Need for more informed tuna media coverage
Wednesday 12 February 2014 | Published in Environment
Cook Islands News reporter Ben Chapman-Smith has joined contemporaries from all over the Pacific in Noumea this week to learn more about the tuna industry.
President wins fishing comp
Tuesday 11 February 2014 | Published in Environment
Nearly 400kg of fish was reeled in during the weekend’s annual game fishing Weighmaster’s competition.
Te Mato Vai start date pushed back
Tuesday 11 February 2014 | Published in Environment
Work on replacement ring mains – a major component of the $60 million Te Mato Vai water infrastructure project – has been pushed back.
Tenders sought for airport solar work
Thursday 6 February 2014 | Published in Environment
Local companies are being invited to tender for the construction of a large solar power system at Rarotonga International Airport.
Damage hot forum topic
Thursday 6 February 2014 | Published in Environment
Damage being caused to the country’s environment was a hot topic at a major tourism gathering yesterday.
Is it an oil slick?
Wednesday 5 February 2014 | Published in Environment
Beachgoers were treated to a stunning sight on Monday when a massive school of fish swarmed through the lagoon in front of Manuia Beach Resort in Arorangi.
Cooks presents concerns on seabed minerals work
Saturday 1 February 2014 | Published in Environment
A lack of resources and lack of capacity are the main obstacles for the Cooks in planning how to manage the environmental impact of deep sea minerals activity, according to a report on a workshop in Fiji.
Surveillance facilities inadequate: MMR
Monday 27 January 2014 | Published in Environment
Marine Resources secretary Ben Ponia says its current facilities in Avarua are hindering the ministry’s ability to monitor the nation’s waters for illicit fishing activity.
Tyre giveaway could shift problem
Saturday 25 January 2014 | Published in Environment
A landowner’s plan to give away hundreds of tyres to the public could just provide a place for mosquitoes to breed in people’s backyards, says the Ministry of Health.
Piles of pumice
Saturday 25 January 2014 | Published in Environment
Kiwi geologist Dr Dan Hikuroa was out walking in Muri with his daughters Brija, 8 and Georgia, 5, this week when they found piles of pumice along the shoreline.