The Exclusive Economic Zone of the Cook Islands is declared a sanctuary for all whales. Wales are protected by prohibiting the deliberate catching. Furthermore, any accidental capture of or injury to a whale during fishing operations and the utilization of stranded whale carcasses in the exclusive economic zone will require to be reported to the Ministry of Marine Resources. The creation of a whale sanctuary in the Cook Islands however allows for: i) Non-lethal scientific research; ii) Collabora