Dear Editor, a proposal to someone in government that is in-charge of maintaining marine life.

Each year, thousands of visitors come to our beautiful shores and collect seashells as souvenirs, seemingly harmless tokens of their island experience. What many do not realise is that those very shells are homes to small marine life, vital to our coastal ecosystems. Despite existing regulations, the reality is this: tourists are going to take shells home regardless of what signs say or what customs officers check. Therefore, instead of struggling to prevent it, I believe it is time the Cook Islands introduced a shell export tax; a practical solution that both protects our environment and benefits our economy.

Shells are not just beach decorations. They are vital components of our marine ecosystems, often providing shelter and protection for crabs and small fish. Removing shells in large numbers as happens with the volume of tourists we host each year, results in habitat loss and disrupts the delicate (and often taken for granted) ecological balance of our shoreline. A single shell may seem trivial. But when tens of thousands of shells are taken from multiple beaches every year, the impact becomes impossible to ignore. Tourists want to take shells home. That’s a fact.  While certain species such as the giant clam and some types of coral are already illegal to take, enforcement is inconsistent. It is impractical to search every piece of luggage, and most tourists either don’t know the rules or believe the act is too minor to matter.

A flat fee, even $10 - 20 per kg of shells could generate substantial income. For example, if just 30% of 130,000 tourists took home half a kilo of shells and paid a $10 fee, that’s nearly $400,000 in annual revenue. For reference, the Cook Islands had 143,506 visitors in 2023 https://cookislands.travel/nz.  This money could be used to fund marine conservation, educational campaigns, or better yet, help pay back the country’s debt.

This tax is not about punishing visitors. It’s about educating and empowering them to give back to the environment they enjoy. It’s also a statement of cultural values. Shells, beaches, and oceans are part of our identity. To allow unrestricted removal of shells is to allow the slow erosion of our cultural and environmental integrity. Instead of banning shell collection entirely (which would be difficult to police) a tax allows us to manage the practice, protect our ecosystems, and turn it into something positive. Other countries are already doing similar things:

•     Italy fines tourists up to €3,000 for removing sand and shells from Sardinia https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57370740 

•     Hawaii prohibits the removal of natural coastal materials entirely https://law.justia.com/codes/hawaii/2013/title-13/chapter-205a/section-205a-44/ 

•     The Philippines enforces strict bans on coral and shell exports https://earth.org/marine-biodiversity-in-the-philippines-faces-decimation/ 

The Cook Islands has the chance to introduce a measured, enforceable, and culturally appropriate solution. So, what’s the plan? Let’s start with four steps.

1.    Departing tourists declare any shells at customs,

2.    A flat tax is charged based on weight or item count,

3.    Proceeds are directed to a Marine Sustainability fund, and

4.    Clear education and signage are rolled out at airports, resorts, and online.

This is not an anti-tourist policy. It’s a pro-island, pro-future, pro-sustainability proposal. One that says: “You’re welcome to take a piece of our beauty home, but please, give something back.” This is an opportunity too good to ignore. Let’s stop giving away our natural wealth for free. Let’s value what the ocean gives us and ensure it’s still here for generations to come

Meitaki atupaka,

Tom Harrison Jnr.