Overview
Status: Protocol in place
Type of agreement: Tuna
Protocol dates: 9 December 2025 – 8 December 2032
EU total financial contribution: €460,000 per year
The EU and the Cook Islands have a long-standing fisheries partnership, first agreed in 2016.
The sustainable fisheries partnership agreement (SFPA) between the European Union and the Cook Islands applied from 14 October 2016 until 13 October 2024. After this, it is automatically renewed for 8 years periods. The current fisheries protocol covers the period 9 December 2025 to 8 December 2032.
Financial details
EU financial contribution: €460,000 per year, with €295,000 dedicated to supporting the sustainable development of the Cook Islands’ fisheries policy.
Fees for operators: €9,000 per fishing days.
- Advance payment for tuna seiners: €90,000 per vessels per year (equivalent to the fees due for 10 fishing days).
Access to waters
Reference fishing days: 40 fishing days per year
Fishing access: Vessels from France and Spain can fish for tuna in the Cook Islands waters.
| Fishing opportunities (number of vessels) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| France | Spain | TOTAL | |
| Tuna seiners | 1 | 3 | 4 |
Sectoral support
The EU provides an envelope of €295,000 per year to support the national strategy for sustainable fisheries. It should contribute to good ocean governance and the promotion of responsible and sustainable fisheries.
EU funding supports the main following priorities
- improvement of scientific knowledge
- Support Blue Economy growth
- control and inspection of fishing activities, in particular combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and deterring and sanctioning infringements relating to IUU fishing.
Scientific advice
Tuna-like species in the Western and Central Pacific are managed by the WCPFC, which includes both the EU and the Cook Islands as contracting parties. The EU and the Cook Islands work together within WCPFC to evaluate and manage tuna stocks. The EU's tuna fleet fishes in compliance with WCPFC rules.
According to the agreement and its implementing protocol, the EU and The Cook Islands can hold scientific meetings to assess and recommend ways to manage fishery resources sustainably.
