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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.

The purpose of this survey is to assist the Fisheries Department in gathering data for the stock assessment program so management strategies can be formulated for the long term. This stock assessment survey was year two of a three-year program. The survey encompassed the Torba Province, which is the northern most province of the Vanuatu group and is made up of the Banks and Torres group of islands. The species surveyed were beche-de-mer, rock lobsters, giant clams, and coconut crabs. This area has not been surveyed before so this will provide a base line for future surveys and play an integral part in formulating management plans for the fishery.

Highlands Pacific Limited is currently seeking finance for the development of a Nickel-Cobalt mine in Madang Province. Papua New Guinea. The mine will be located near the Ramu River, with processing facilities at Basamuk Bay on the Rai Coast. Basainuk Bay is a small embayment of the larger Astrolabe Bay. Highlands Pacific plans to dispose of mill tailings through a submarine outfall into Astrolabe Bay. Oceanographic conditions in Astrolabe Bay make this practise inadvisable if consideration is given to the ecological health of the Madang region.