The Government of the Cook Islands is close to opening a fisheries office in American Samoa.
About 40 longliners that fish full time in Cook Islands waters unload their catches at the canneries in American Samoa.
Two fisheries officers from the Cook Islands were in the territory last week to conduct vessel inspections, finalise arrangements with local fisheries officials and look at office space.
American Samoa governor Togiola Tulafono is to sign an MOU for the establishment of the office with the Cook Islands government when he attends the Pacific Islands Forum summit in Rarotonga later this month.
