A select committee looking into grievances raised by petitioners against purse seine fishing in the Cook Islands is expected to report to parliament before the end of August.
Cook Islands Prime Minister Henry Puna and Finance Minister Mark Brown Photo: Phillipa Webb / Cook Islands News
Finance Minister Mark Brown said the committee is looking into two requests filed regarding purse seining.
The first request is for the government not to enter into any more purse seining licences and the second one is asking that any existing licences not to be renewed as of this year he said.
Mr Brown said the committee will hear submissions and then make their recommendations.
The Cook Islands News reports the select committee has set aside the next couple of weeks to deal with the petition and Mr Brown says more time will be added.
Prime Minister Henry Puna said the formation of the committee showed the importance of the issues surrounding purse seining and it should act accordingly.
The committee is made up of four members from government and four from the opposition.