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Koka Lagoon cruises & the Environment - Our commitment
As a tourism operator in Muri Lagoon and one with a reliance on our natural environment, we recognise that we have a responsibility to the marine environment that we operate in.
Our company aims to operate with minimal impact on the environment, and to give back and ensure benefits flow both ways in our usage of the lagoon.
The Rarotonga Lagoon Conservation Trust
Koka Lagoon Cruises contributes 2 percent of its sales to the Rarotonga Lagoon Conservation Trust which has been established to assist towards the protection and preservation of Rarotonga痴 lagoon ecosystem.
In its first few months of operation the trust has contributed to Lagoon Day in May 2010, supporting the educational school tours throughout the two day event, and looks forward to working with the community and other organisations in future programmes.
Ra'ui
Ra置i is the traditional environment protection system that involves traditional leaders banning the harvest of marine resources in designated areas. Traditionally it was imposed by the chief of the tribe banning the harvesting of food resources of a set period of time to enable stocks to increase.
The main purpose of the ra置i is to help protect the marine environment and to contribute towards an increase in marine life for present and future generations (Passfield and Tiraa 1998). There are 12 ra置i areas in Rarotonga including in Tikioki, where Koka Lagoon Cruises has set up its marine site. Some ra置i are short-term and allow harvesting on a rotational basis, others are long term. Parts of Tikioki ra置i are now permanently reserved.
