A Cook Islands NGO says it'll keep pressure on the government to disclose financial details of its purse seining agreement with a South Korean company.
Leading Cook Islands non-government environmental agency, the Taporoporo'anga Ipukarea Society says it's going to keep pressure on the government to disclose financial details of its purse seining agreement with a South Korean company.
Fishermen on a purse seine vessel in the Pacific. Photo: AFP
All financial details of the agreement have been kept under wraps by the head of the Ministry of Marine Resources Ben Ponia who has been reported as saying this is necessary so that commercial negotiations aren't prejudiced or disadvantaged.
Te Ipukarea Society technical director Kelvin Passfield said he could understands why the Ministry would not reveal the exact cost of the fishing deal, for commercial reasons.
However, he adds the issue is that the government had not consulted with stakeholders before the deal was signed.