The Cook Islands government has approved an additional 20 licences for exploratory fishing within its exclusive economic zone of nearly two million square kilometres.
The prime minister, Henry Puna, says cabinet will allow 10 additional licences for swordfish and 10 for bigeye tuna, although the ministry of marine resources has yet to make concrete arrangements with foreign fishing companies.
The minister of marine resources, Teina Bishop, says the licences should pave the way for joint ventures between foreign fishing companies and Cook Islands operators.
