The Cook Islands has strengthened its scientific ties with China through a short marine research voyage aboard the Da Yang Hao, one of China’s leading deep-sea research vessels. A team of Cook Islanders joined the ship in Suva, Fiji, for a ~9-day cruise to Rarotonga, aiming to boost scientific collaboration and deepen understanding of the nation’s vast marine environment.
The Cook Islands delegation – led by the Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) through Edward Herman, John Parianos, Rima Browne, and Tanga Morris Jr – also includes representatives from the House of Ariki, the Government of the Cook Islands, and Te Ipukarea Society: Philip Vakatini Ariki, Troy Penno, and Alanna Smith.
According to officials, the voyage aims to strengthen “marine scientific collaboration” between the Cook Islands and the China Ministry of Natural Resources, with a focus on the “exchange of knowledge, research practices, and deep-sea science capabilities undertaken under Cook Islands jurisdiction and national research protocols.”
Through this joint effort, the Cook Islands continues to demonstrate its leadership in “science-driven ocean exploration,” contributing to a better understanding of “our Marae Moana, our marine ecosystems, and the deep-sea environments within our national waters.”
Knowledge gained from the mission will remain in the Cook Islands’ hands, supporting “responsible management, environmental protection, and informed decision-making for our ocean and our people.”
The Da Yang Hao is equipped with “state-of-the-art laboratories and cutting-edge ocean technology,” enabling the ship to collect high-value data that will inform “future research, environmental management, and policy development.”
The delegation is expected to arrive in Rarotonga during the second week of November 2025, weather permitting.
“Meitaki ma‘ata to all involved – this collaboration continues to showcase the Cook Islands’ leadership in marine science, stewardship, and partnership beneath the waves,” the statement reads.
Training and Onboard Education
During the “4-day transit from Fiji to the Cook Islands,” the team took part in a range of training drills and educational seminars to familiarise themselves with ship operations and onboard research systems.
From “safety drills and knot tying, to learning about the Da Yang Hao’s full spread of scientific equipment,” the Cook Islands team has been fully immersed in ship life. They have received a warm welcome and been integrated into the “Science Team to participate in the collection of marine scientific data during the research cruise.”
Once on-site, the plan is to “use and deploy a range of instruments to showcase the Da Yang Hao’s capabilities.”
Both “biological and geological data” will be collected, and, in line with the Cook Islands’ open science principles, “all data will be made publicly available to support open science and future marine research.”
