SAVE AVAAVAROA PASSAGE

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Avaavaroa Passage is a naturally dynamic and powerful marine channel. It is also officially recognised as one of the Cook Islands’ most dangerous swimming areas and has been described as “notorious for drownings.” The risks posed by strong currents and limited visibility are well known and well documented.

Despite this, commercial motorboat taxis and sea-scooter operations are now occurring within this narrow rip channel, significantly increasing risk to swimmers, guides, staff, and other water users. These activities introduce mechanical hazards into an environment already defined by natural danger.

At peak times, up to eight motorboats and as many as 50 sea scooters may operate simultaneously within the passage. In such a confined space, this results in overlapping traffic, reduced situational awareness, engine wake, propeller exposure, and increased collision risk. These vessels are often used to transport people through the passage or to tow or assist swimmers, meaning they are functioning not as recreational devices, but as transportation tools.

Because motorboat taxis and sea scooters are being used to transport people through water, their operation falls squarely within the scope of maritime transport safety. This creates a clear and appropriate role for the Cook Islands Ministry of Transport in regulating their use, speed, numbers, operating zones, and safety requirements within Avaavaroa Passage.

In comparable jurisdictions, powered devices used to move people through water are regulated under transport or maritime safety frameworks. For example, in Australia, personal watercraft such as jet skis are subject to licensing, speed restrictions, operating zones, and exclusion areas to protect swimmers and marine environments. While sea-scooter classifications vary internationally, the principle remains consistent: motorised water transport is regulated to manage risk, particularly in shared or environmentally sensitive waters.

Applying similar transport-based oversight in Avaavaroa Passage would align with international best practice and prioritise both human safety and environmental protection.

The environmental effects of motorised activity in the passage are well supported by scientific research.

Reef fish larvae rely on natural reef soundscapes to orient themselves toward suitable habitat during their most vulnerable life stage. Boat noise masks these acoustic cues and has been shown to drive nearly half of larvae away from reefs instead of toward them, reducing reef replenishment and resilience (Holles et al., 2013).

Sea turtles are also affected by underwater noise pollution. Research demonstrates that low-frequency engine noise disrupts turtle behaviour, interferes with feeding, and negatively affects overall well-being in coastal habitats (Samuel et al., 2005).

Hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) are regularly observed within Avaavaroa Passage, using the area for feeding and resting. Hawksbills are classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, with global populations declining by more than 80% due to habitat loss, pollution, and human disturbance (Mortimer et al., 2008). Recent studies confirm that hawksbills rely on calm, healthy reef systems and show strong site fidelity, making disturbance in key habitats particularly harmful (Sanchez et al., 2024).

In addition to noise, fuel leakage, repeated anchoring or engine contact, overcrowding, and high swimmer density place cumulative pressure on coral structures and marine life within a very limited space.

Avaavaroa Passage does not require motorised transport to be experienced safely or responsibly. What it requires is clear regulation, appropriate zoning, and management that reflects both the physical risks of the passage and its ecological importance.

We call on the Cook Islands Government, the Ministry of Transport, the National Environment Service, and Cook Islands Tourism to:

  • Recognise motorboat taxis and sea scooters operating in Avaavaroa Passage as transport activities subject to Ministry of Transport oversight

  • Ban or strictly regulate commercial motorised operations within the passage

  • Apply safety-based controls such as exclusion zones, vessel limits, and speed restrictions

  • Protect public safety and marine ecosystems in accordance with the Rarotonga Southern Passages Environmental Management Plan

  • Support low-impact, non-motorised use of Avaavaroa Passage that respects all water users

**Protect swimmers.
Protect staff.
Protect turtles.
Protect the reef.

Keep Avaavaroa Passage motor-free.**

Through evidence-based regulation and shared responsibility, Avaavaroa Passage can remain a place of natural beauty, safety, and ecological value — respected rather than overwhelmed.

Sign and share to support responsible management and lasting protection.

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