Opinion: Australia should support minimum terms and conditions for Pacific seabed mining
The extraction of deep seabed mining resources on an industrial scale at incredible depths is a new frontier with many unknowns. But the potential gains are immense. Deep sea deposits contain manganese, cobalt, nickel,
‘Nuclear not allowed’: PNG’s Marape backtracks on comments
Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape has backtracked on his position regarding Japan’s proposed dumping of treated nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean. Marape indicated support for the
Palau names 63 undersea mounts, extending its undersea claim
Palau has named 63 undersea mounts and basins on the Palau-Kyushu Ridge, the singular underwater ridge that connects Palau to Japan. These 63 mounts occur outside Palau’s Exclusive Economic Zone, north of Palau’s
Recycle metals instead of seabed mining, says PNG anti-mining activist
An anti-mining group in Papua New Guinea is calling on its government to explore opportunities in precious metals recycling instead of courting armageddon by allowing seabed mining to happen. “We are calling for a
Tuvalu joins forces with Sea Shepherd Global to combat illegal fishing
The Government of Tuvalu has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sea Shepherd Global, a marine conservation organisation based in the Netherlands, to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing
Opinion: It’s time to move on from “fisheries management”
The last year has seen some promising changes in the global framework for environmental governance. COP27 and COP15, while they didn’t go as far as necessary to hold back the escalation of global temperatures, have
Marine sanctuary expansion alarms Pacific governors
The prospect of expanding a marine sanctuary has alarmed CNMI Governor Arnold I. Palacios, Guam Governor Lourdes Leon Guerrero and American Samoa Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga. In their joint letter to President Joseph
Deep-seabed mining is creating a noisy problem for Australia — and it’s only getting louder
Given the exponential threats it poses to the marine environment, deep seabed mining is destined to become a contentious global environmental issue. The risks are significant enough to make a mockery of any
Considering the possible impacts of deep sea mining in the Cook Islands
In the recent Parliament opening, King’s Representative Sir Tom Masters spoke of the Cook Islands’ desire to develop a sustainable and environmentally responsible seabed minerals sector. This week, also in
Deep-sea mining meeting closes without consensus
As meetings to oversee deep-sea mining on the high seas draw to a close, it remains unclear whether regulators will allow it to commence in the near future. At the 07-31 March meetings in Kingston, Jamaica, of the
CNMI, American Samoa criticise Pacific Remote Islands expansion plan
U.S. President Joe Biden’s plan to expand the Pacific Remote Islands’ marine sanctuary has been receiving negative responses from territorial leaders, who criticised the lack of consultation prior to the
Congresswoman Amata opposes Pacific Remote Islands expansion plan
Closing off more areas around the Pacific Remote Islands would only invite foreign vessels to poach into the U.S. waters, American Samoa delegate Uifa’atali Amata Radewagen said, opposing the Biden administration’s
Threats of sea-level rise very real: Tuvalu Foreign Minister
Legal experts from around the region are gathered in Fiji for the regional conference on Statehood, Protection of Persons affected by sea level rise. The conference was mandated by Forum Leaders recognising the many
Leader of International Seabed Mining Agency admonished by diplomats
Michael Lodge, the head of the United Nations-affiliated agency with jurisdiction over international ocean waters, has pushed diplomats to accelerate the start of industrial-scale mining at the bottom of the Pacific
Palau joins world leaders in shift towards sustainable marine tourism
Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr joined global leaders in support of a shift towards sustainable coastal and marine tourism to protect the ocean and the livelihoods of those who directly rely on it. In a joint
High Seas Treaty exempts deep-sea mining from stricter rules
Deep-sea mining will be exempted from environmental impact assessment (EIA) measures established under a landmark international oceans treaty, a move campaigners fear could undermine protection for the seabed. The High
Forum Chair calls for adoption and ratification of high seas treaty to be fast tracked
Pacific Islands Forum Chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister, Mark Brown has welcomed the conclusion of the negotiations on the key substantive issues that will frame a new International Treaty on the conservation and
Historic deal to protect high seas finally reached at UN
It has been almost two decades in the making but on Saturday night in New York, after days of gruelling round-the-clock talks, UN member states finally agreed on a treaty to protect the high seas. A full day after the
UN head says high seas treaty must be ‘ambitious’
United Nations chief Antonio Guterres urged countries Wednesday to agree a “robust and ambitious” treaty to protect the high seas, as time starts to run out for negotiators. After 15 years of formal and informal
Ocean Summit aims to secure pledges
Experts, ministers and philanthropists from around the world are meeting in Panama this Thursday and Friday in search of funding and new commitments to promote the “blue” economy, expand marine protected areas and
Worry, frustration as UN tries to finally agree high seas treaty
UN member states have much work to do to finally agree a treaty to protect the high seas before scheduled negotiations close in five days, participants and observers say. After 15 years of formal and informal talks,
Council advises President Whipps to fully protect marine sanctuary
In their 16 February 2023 letter to President Surangel Whipps Jr., Palau’s Council of Chiefs (COC) made their case on behalf of the people, that the integrity and full-protection of the territorial waters in the
Cook Islands carry out consultations on seabed minerals
Cook Islands Seabed Minerals (SBM) Authority have confirmed that Prime Minister Mark Brown recently visited Aitutaki to carry out consultations on the seabed minerals (SBM) sector. The consultations are part of