Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

Building on the recently ratified bilateral agreement to counter illicit transnational maritime activities, the U.S. Coast Guard joined hands with PNG agencies – the Defence Force, Customs Services, National Fisheries Authority, and the Department of Transport's Maritime Security Division – to make this historic operation a reality.

Ship riders from PNG agencies spent a cumulative 10 days countering illegal maritime activity, including illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.

Notable achievements of the patrol include:

Ten blocks, each covering 11,000 square kilometres, are available for exploratory licences in the Cook Islands two million square kilometre EEZ.

The country's Sea Bed Mining Authority says it has had serious expressions of interest from Japan, Korea, China, the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom.

The Authority's head Paul Lynch says while companies would be making commercial decisions the government would be basing its decision on social and environmental factors.