Protesters in the Cook Islands protest a draft deal between their government and the European Union. Photo: Flo Syme Buchanan
An anti purse seine fishing petition signed by more than 4,000 Cook Islanders has been tabled in the country's parliament.
The Democratic Party MP James Beer tabled the petition which opposes fishing by purse seine vessels in the Cook Islands' exclusive economic zone.
Parliamentary staff have checked the credibility of the signatures.
The petition was simply tabled in parliament, as it was decided there would be no further discussion while a judicial review was being sought on the government decision to grant recent purse seine fishing licences.
The Prime Minister Henry Puna stood to give his ministerial statement on fisheries.
He said this was to tell the 'untold story' of purse seine fishing in the Cook Islands.
But he was asked by the Speaker of Parliament Nikki Rattle to revise his statement overnight to ensure it did not mention the purse seine petition.
The Prime Minister agreed but said Mr Beer was only concerned because the government's statement would 'blow his petition out of the water'.