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Rarotonga the capital of the Cook Islands is rapidly developing with tourism as one of the major income earners for the country. The health of the lagoon and reef is important for the welfare of the people. It is vital that the health of the lagoon is monitored and action is taken to protect the health of the lagoon, coral reef and the people that use it. Human activities contribute to the decreased water quality, for example farming of pigs, deforestation and farming crops close to streams. The water quality monitoring programme gives an evaluation of the state of the streams and lagoon, and can be used to identify issues that need to be addressed.

This reports presents the information gathered during a short (10-day) survey of the marine resources of Palmerston Island, Cook Islands, carried out in September 1988. The report essentially consolidates, in publishable form, the draft version of the survey results and fishery management recommendations presented to the Cook Islands Ministry of Marine Resources in early October 1988.