Fisheries authorities say a giant net found off the coast of the Cook Islands could have posed a danger to other vessels.
Unraveling the huge net on the marina wharf in Rarotonga proved impossible. Photo: RNZI/Flo Syme-Buchanan
The net which is estimated to be the size of a rugby field, was found eight miles off the coast of Rarotonga last weekend.
Local fishermen were concerned it may have been used for illegal fishing activity.
But the Marine Resources Ministry said it appears to be a trawl net discarded from a vessel working outside Cook Islands waters.
Senior Fisheries Officer Andrew Jones said the discovery is still worrying.
"We're concerned that debris is drifting out there. There is dangers to vessels if something like this got caught around a propeller. If we had some identification we'd see if we could track down the vessel because you're not meant to abandon plastics and used fishing gear into the ocean, they are meant to be retrieved and disposed of on land."
Mr Jones said the net could have drifted west from as far as two or three thousand miles away.