The effects of climate change may be a contributing factor in the delayed migration of humpback whales to Cook Islands waters, says a world-renowned whale researcher. Rarotonga-based whale researcher Nan Hauser says she’s observed 2020’s annual migration to be roughly six weeks late.
Feeding wild animals is a regular habit in ecotourism worldwide with poorly known consequences for ecosystem functioning. This study investigates how effective bread feeding is at attracting coral reef fish in the South Pacific, which feeding groups of fish are most attracted, and how natural foraging rates of an omnivorous and a grazingdetritivorous fish are affected. Data were collected at sites where fish are regularly fed bread by snorkellers and at comparison sites where bread was only provided for this study, within the Aitutaki lagoon (Cook Islands).
Under the sea, breadcrumb trails are leading scientists to a new understanding of how ecotourism can affect marine ecosystems.
A Cuvier’s beaked whale was found washed up dead on the reef of the island of Pukapuka on Tuesday morning, intriguing locals and scientists..
Environment group Kōrero o te 'Ōrau is calling for the removal of the crown of thorns starfish from reefs around Rarotonga. It could be an early stage of an outbreak, says leader and biologist Dr Teina Rongo.
The Cook Islands State of Environment Report (SoE) 2018 was officially approved by Cabinet on 6 March, 2020. The report updates the 1993 baseline with the latest findings supported by scientific data from the Cook Islands and presents it in a form that is easily understood.
The New Zealand Defence Force is resuming aerial patrols in the Pacific following concerns about illegal fishing in the region. A Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Orion is this week carrying out aerial surveillance over the Exclusive Economic Zones of Niue and the Cook Islands...due to tr
Conservationists want the whole Pacific region to adopt the Cook Islands fisheries management approach. Experts at Conservation International say this will ensure all tuna fisheries within the jurisdiction of Pacific Island countrie
The public is to be consulted for one week on changes to the seabed mining laws, after a last-minute plea from environmentalists. The Seabed Minerals Amendment Bill 2020 was scheduled to be tabled in Parliament yesterday.
The Cook Islands government will allow miners to prospect for minerals on its seabed, with an eye to commencing mining within five years.