Situation

The Marae Moana (“Sacred Ocean”) Act designated the Cook Islands’ entire ocean jurisdiction as a multiple-use Marine Protected Area (MPA). How might Blu Skye help the Prime Minister and key stakeholders craft a commercial tuna standard that aligns with the vision for the MPA?

Goal

Align key government, civil society, and supply chain stakeholders around a Natural Currency Standard (NCS) for Marae Moana’s albacore tuna—and a path to market—to ensure Cook Islands’ fisheries represent the world’s best in quality, sustainability, social justice, cultural benefit, and commercial viability. 

Our Role

Assess

Mapped stakeholders and competing subjectivities among government, industry and NGOs. Reviewed current fishing standards in relationship to science-based best practices.

Align

Developed a “pre-read” informed by interviews, research, data, and knowledge from content experts to ensure a common fact-based framework. Designed and facilitated a multi-day workshop for key Marae Moana actors—government and traditional leaders, marine scientists, local and international NGOs, and commercial/supply chain partners.

Execute

Designed and supported a new Marae Moana Innovation Hub staffed by local leaders to ensure follow through on commitments from workshop. Convened weekly meetings among key leaders to gauge progress and make course corrections.

Result

Draft NCS standard publicly presented by the Cook Island Ministry of Marine Resources to the incoming Prime Minister at his inauguration.