Aquaculture Development Plan 2012 – 2016.

The Aquaculture Development Plan is a national plan with a cross-sectoral approach. The timeframe of the Plan is 5 years between 2012 and 2016. The overall goal of the Plan is to promote aquaculture best practices to responsibly and sustainably enhance populations of selected aquatic resources, maintain food security, diversify income-generating opportunities particularly in the Outer Islands, and supplement capture fisheries in Cook Islands.
Food security will be ensured in the long-run through sustainable fishing and conservation practices.
Aquaculture development will be ensured with increased production of pearl, giant clams, trochus, tilapia, land crab, giant Malaysian freshwater prawn, milkfish, mantis shrimp, sea grapes, and eel. Inshore fisheries and aquaculture development will be ensured through marine biodiversity conservation and effective management of non-living marine resources.
In order to enhance the livelihoods and well-being of Cook Islands people, traditional subsistence practice and income earning opportunities will be improved from sustainably managed offshore fisheries through capacity building, and infrastructure and market development. Farmer's access to necessary farming equipment and resources will be improved. In addition to that, scientific and technical support will be provided to farmers.
Income generating opportunities will be improved for the private sector particularly in the Outer Islands, through increased provision of technical and scientific assistance. Profitable and sustainable pearl industry will be developed through innovative international marketing strategy, improved skills and sustainable environmental management. Water quality monitoring system will be established as a basis for farm management. Marine ecotourism will be developed to enhance its contribution to the economy by taking into account customary practices and knowledge and potential commercialization. Stock assessment and scientific research will be conducted in selected key harvest areas. Survey of Northern Cook Islands will be conducted to assess stock status in order to manage re-stocking and grow-out and to achieve increase in trochus landings. Alternative and innovative strategies will be implemented for trochus product development, promotion and marketing including processing, handling and transportation techniques. Fish availability will be increased through environmental protection with a special emphasis on appropriate disposal of pond effluent and water recycling, capacity building on farming best-practice and more efficient techniques. Market size will be increased through product diversification, value adding, and trial of alternative production systems with respect to land and water requirements. Business plans will be drafted to identify the target market segments. Private public partnership will be established for spat production, nursery management, grow-out and harvesting by Ministry of Marine Resources in partnership with communities and private sector.