The Cook Islands in the South Pacific have banned commercial fishing within a 50 nautical mile radius of the islands in an attempt to protect whales . Updated on Friday, April 7, 2017 - 20:23. In addition to the ban , the Cook Islands have declared their Exclusive Economic Zone a marine park . The region already has a prohibition on potential sea bed mineral activity within 50 nautical miles of the islands .
The Cook Islands in the South Pacific have banned commercial fishing within a 50 nautical mile radius of the islands in an attempt to protect whales . In addition to the ban , the Cook Islands have declared their Exclusive Economic Zone a marine park . The region already has a prohibition on potential sea bed mineral activity within 50 nautical miles of the islands .