Biophysically special, unique marine FINAL REPORT – 10 February 2021 areas of the Cook Islands Daniela M. Ceccarelli1, Kate Davey2, Keith Twyford2, Hayley Weeks2, Kelvin Passfield3, Michael White4, Hans Wendt5, Gander Wainiqolo5, John Kaitu’u5, Miriam Burrah5 Suggested citation: Ceccarelli DM, Davey K, Twyford K, Weeks H, Passfield K, White M, Wendt H, Wainiqolo G, Kaitu’u J, Burrah M (2021) Biophysically special, unique marine areas of the Cook Islands. Ridge to Reef Project, Rarotonga, Cook Islands. 1 ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University and Marine Ecology Consultant 2 Ridge to Reef (R2R) Project, Cook Islands National Environment Service (NES) 3 Te Ipukarea Society, PO Box 649, Rarotonga, Cook Islands 4 Honu Cook Islands, Omoka Village, Tongareva Atoll, Cook Islands 5 International Union for the Conservation of Nature – Oceania Regional Office (IUCN-ORO) 1 Table of Contents Acronyms ............................................................................................................................................ 8 Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................................... 9 Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................... 10 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 12 1.1 Project background .................................................................................................................... 12 1.2 Policy and planning context .................................................................................................... 12 2 Methods ..................................................................................................................................... 13 2.1 Data gathering .............................................................................................................................. 13 2.2 Workshop and additional consultations ............................................................................ 14 2.3 Rating of the Cook Islands’ special and/or unique marine areas .............................. 15 2.4 Layout of site information in report .................................................................................... 17 3 Offshore biophysically special and/or unique marine areas ................................... 18 3.1 Site O1: Northeastern Seamounts ......................................................................................... 19 3.2 Site O2: Manihiki Plateau ......................................................................................................... 23 3.3 Site O3: Palmerston – Kona Reef ........................................................................................... 26 3.4 Site O4: Ngaputoru Ridges and Seamounts ........................................................................ 30 3.5 Site O5: Marine Mammal Migratory Pathways ................................................................. 32 3.6 Site O6: Southern Cook Islands Seamounts ....................................................................... 36 3.7 Site O7: High-Density Nodule Fields ..................................................................................... 38 4 Inshore biophysically special and/or unique marine areas ..................................... 42 4.1 Northern Cook Islands .............................................................................................................. 42 4.1.1 Site TON1: Tongareva - Flying Venus Reef .................................................................................................... 43 4.1.2 Site TON2: Tongareva - Taruia Reef Pass ....................................................................................................... 46 4.1.3 Site TON3: Tongareva - Northern Reef Pass ................................................................................................. 50 4.1.4 Site TON4: Tongareva Beaches - Omoka, Mangarongaro, Tetautua ................................................... 53 4.1.5 Site MAN1: Manihiki Lagoon ................................................................................................................................ 59 4.1.6 Site MAN2: Manihiki - ..................................................................................................................... 63 4.1.7 Site MAN3: Eastern Manihiki ............................................................................................................................... 67 4.1.8 Site MAN4: Manihiki - NgakePorea Ra’uiReef ..................................................................................................................... 69 4.1.9 Site RAK1: Rakahanga Lagoon............................................................................................................................. 71 4.1.10 ......................................................................................................... 73 4.1.11 Site PUK1: Pukapuka Southern Lagoon ..................................................................................................... 75 4.1.12 Site PUK2:RAK2: PukapukaRakahanga - ForereefReef East Ra’ui of Toka .................................................................................................. 77 4.1.13 Site PUK3: Pukapuka Beaches ........................................................................................................................ 80 4.1.14 Site PUK4: Pukapuka Seabird Colonies ...................................................................................................... 82 4.1.15 .............................................................................................................................. 86 4.1.16 Site NAS1: Southern Nassau Turtle Sites................................................................................................... 88 4.1.17 Site NAS2:PUK5: NorthernPukapuka Nassau Ra’ui Reef ................................................................................................................. 90 4.1.18 ............................................................................................ 92 4.1.19 Site NAS4: Nassau Beaches .............................................................................................................................. 94 4.1.20 Site SUW1:NAS3: Southeastern Suwarrow ........................................................................................................................................ Nassau Ra’ui Area 96 4.2 Southern Cook Islands............................................................................................................ 100 4.2.1 Site PAL1: Palmerston, Cook and Primrose Island Beaches ................................................................ 101 2 4.2.2 Site PAL2: Western Palmerston Outer Reef Slope .................................................................................... 104 4.2.3 Site PAL3: Palmerston North Islet and Ma ........................................................................... 107 4.2.4 Site PAL4: Palmerston - Reef off Cook Islet ................................................................................................. 110 4.2.5 Site PAL5: Palmerston Western Lagoon Coralrion’s Heads Bank ............................................................................. 112 4.2.6 Site AIT1: Aitutaki - Ootu Lagoon Area .......................................................................................................... 114 4.2.7 Site AIT2: Aitutaki - One Foot Island Area ................................................................................................... 117 4.2.8 Site AIT3: Aitutaki - Arutanga Passage .......................................................................................................... 119 4.2.9 Site AIT4: Aitutaki - Tarava ................................................................................................................................. 121 4.2.10 Site AIT5: Southern Aitutaki Reef ............................................................................................................... 124 4.2.11 Site AIT6: Aitutaki - Maina Island ............................................................................................................... 128 4.2.12 Site AIT7: Aitutaki - Moturakau and Rapota .......................................................................................... 130 4.2.13 Site AIT8: Aitutaki - Tavaerua Tua ............................................................................................................. 132 4.2.14 Site MAE1: Manuae Enclosed Lagoon ....................................................................................................... 134 4.2.15 Site MAE2: Manuae Beaches ......................................................................................................................... 136 4.2.16 Site MAE3: Manuae Lagoon, Reef and Drop-off .................................................................................... 138 4.2.17 Site TAK1: Takutea Reefs ............................................................................................................................... 141 4.2.18 Site TAK2: Takutea Beaches .......................................................................................................................... 144 4.2.19 Site TAK3: Takutea