Samoa's cabinet has approved the assignment of it's patrol boat, the MV Nafanua's to patrol the Cook Islands Exclusive Economic Zone for a period of two weeks, while the Cook's Patrol Boat 'Te Kukupa' undergoes a refit in Australia.
A statement from the Government Secretariat says the operation is beneficial for Samoa and the crew of the MV Nafanua.
It will enable the crew to gain better knowledge and skills from conducting security surveillance in other territorial waters;
Samoa will be entitled to a 25% share in any recovery resulting from the conviction of any foreign fishing vessel caught fishing illegally in Cook Island waters.
