A One Cook Islands MP says no amount of money would make a deal to allow four Spanish purse seiners to fish in the country's waters worthwhile.
A group marching against the Cook Islands fish deal with the EU Photo: Flo Syme Buchanan
The draft agreement, between the European Union and the Cook Islands, would allow the vessels to fish for tuna in Cook Islands waters for at least eight years.
The government says the deal would earn the Cook Islands 13 million US dollars - that's nearly 12 and a half thousand US dollars for every day one of the vessels fishes there.
But George Maggie Angene says it's not about the money.
"It won't take long for them to use that money. But the fish will be gone forever, we won't see them again. I can guarantee that. The government is not honest to the people. I will keep doing it, keep pushing not to take the fish out of our country. And I will say a big no to Henry Puna and his government."
George Maggie Angene says the public was never consulted on the deal.
Cook Islanders march to decry the Prime Minister Henry Puna and his government's deal with the European Union on purse seine fishing. Photo: Flo Syme Buchanan
