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The Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (Authority) regulates seabed minerals (SBM) activities under the Cook Islands jurisdiction. As a small, developing Pacific Island nation, we increasingly view ourselves as a “Large ocean state”.

Like many Pacific Island nations, the Cook Islands has limited opportunities for sustainable economic growth and diversification. One of our greatest natural resources has always been our ocean. Forty years of ocean survey work suggests as much as 6.7 billion tonnes of mineral rich manganese nodules, found at a depth of 5,000m are spread over some 750,000 square kilometres of the Cook Islands Continental Shelf. This seabed mineral resource offers a significant opportunity for the long term sustainable development of the Cook Islands.

Our Legacy

Woven from the leaves of the coconut tree the green basket is known in the Cook Islands as a “kete” or “raurau” and is used to carry things that are of value to our people - such as fruits, fresh produce, fish etc. In this case it is carrying pieces of nodules that were collected during the 1960s exploration cruise in the Cook Islands EEZ by our very own Sir Tom Marsters, K.B.E.

The three pairs of hands seen in this photo are those of Sir Tom Marster’s, his daughter’s, and his grandson’s - a symbol of the kind of legacy we want to pass down to future generations. We are to be wise stewards of our ocean which provide so much to our people and we will continue to be wise stewards so that the legacy we leave behind is enriched with promise and health.