Creating opportunities for deep sea research

The Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) manages a Research Permit for small environmental programs in the Cook Islands waters, granted by the National Research Council (rpSEP).

SBMA wanted to take advantage of opportunistic instances for small programs of environmental data collection in our Marae Moana by streamlining the process for permitting such activities.

The objectives were to encourage more deep sea research and for all the data to be publicly available. 

Since Feb 2023 SBMA have issued 7 letters of permission for acoustic measurements and monitoring. Activities include seafloor mapping, collection of water column data and captured seabed video footage. 

Importantly, this data includes data outside of exploration licence areas. This will allow for a more complete and accurate regional analysis of the data. 

Also conducted under the rpSEP was the ARTEX 2023 Expedition, led by SBMA scientists. Read more on the expedition here https://www.sbma.gov.ck/news-3/article-118

Source by: Seabed Minerals Authority