Cook Islands hosts international workshop on seabed environmental management and monitoring

The Cook Islands recently hosted an international workshop on deep seabed (SBM) environmental management and monitoring from 26 to 29 July 2021, with over 120 virtual and local participants.

Jointly organised by the Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA), the International Seabed Authority (ISA), and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the capacity-building workshop was provided to Pacific countries who have sponsored SBM activities in the international seabed Area, namely the Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru and Tonga.

Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, international participants joined virtually while local participants convened at the Muri Beach Club Hotel. Overseas participants included seabed experts, pacific governments, contractors, observers, and regional, international and civil society organisations. Local participants included government agencies, traditional and religious leaders, civil society as well as the SBM Advisory Committee. 

In opening the workshop, Prime Minister Honourable Mark Brown emphasised the importance of capacity building Pacific sponsoring countries to ensure the sustainable and responsible development of seabed minerals for the benefit of all humanity. “This workshop is yet another step towards our collective engagement to ensure the sound and sustainable management of deep seabed minerals within and beyond our national jurisdictions,” he said.

Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Henry Puna also provided opening remarks, reaffirming the importance of Te Moana Nui o Kiva to the Pacific and sharing that the workshop was “an opportunity to ensure, the necessary governance structures and mechanisms, required for deep seabed activities are in place.”

Topics discussed during the workshop included the SBM international legal framework and the application of the precautionary approach, the responsibilities of sponsoring states, environmental risk and impact assessments, environmental data sharing, and deep-sea technologies.

Eusenio Fatialofa, CIICSR presenting

Presenters from the Cook Islands included CIIC Seabed Resources Ltd, General Manager Eusenio Fatialofa, SBMA GIS Officer Rima Browne, National Heritage Trust Gerald McCormack and SBMA Commissioner Alex Herman. Fatialofa spoke about the environmental studies undertaken on a recent seabed expedition. Browne shared on the development of the Cook Islands SBM information management system. McCormack presented on a precautionary approach to seabed mining in the Cook Islands. Herman presented on SBM environmental obligations as well as capacity building and development needs of the Cook Islands. 

T-B: (1) Rima Browne, SBMA (2) Gerald McCormack, Natural Heritage Trust, (3) Commissioner Alex Herman

The workshop and presentations were well received by local participants who found the topics very informative, giving them a greater understanding of the exploration activities in the international seabed area, as well as SBM environmental management and monitoring requirements. “I am pleased that we had a high level of participation from Cook Islanders, particularly as international SBM issues are not as well understood compared to developments within our EEZ” said Herman.

In closing the workshop, Prime Minister Brown spoke about the shared commitment by all stakeholders both international and local towards environmental protection. “My government is committed to building a seabed minerals sector based on best principles and practices, supported by a robust legal framework, in harmony with our high environmental, social and cultural values,” declared Prime Minister Brown.

ISA Secretary-General H.E. Michael Lodge thanked Prime Minister Brown for a highly successful workshop, and looked forward to continuing to work closely with the Cook Islands with a view to strengthening the capacities of Pacific sponsoring states through the Abyssal Initiative Project. 

Prime Minister Brown's opening remarks at the workshop

For more on Prime Minister Brown’s opening and closing remarks, click here.

For more on the workshop, click here

For more on the Abyssal Initiative Project, click here.

Queries regarding this release can be directed to Communications Officer Dede Mingi: [email protected]