A ‘New’ Underwater Volcano: Rising from the Depths Near You!

The Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA), in collaboration with other partners such as the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), University of California Santa Barbara, and Kiva Marine, recently went volcano hunting without a seabed mineral in sight. Keep reading if you want to find out why and how.

SBMA Release: SBMA participates in High-Level Regional Talks on Deep Sea Minerals

The Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) recently participated in the first of its kind Ministerial Talanoa on Deep Sea Minerals (DSM), convened by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva, Fiji, from 18 to 21 February 2025.

The Talanoa brought together Pacific Island Forum leaders, ministers and senior officials, and regional and international stakeholders to discuss the opportunities and challenges of DSM development and governance in the Pacific.

Landmark Deepsea Environment Moorings Successfully Deployed in the Cook Islands

The Cook Islands has reached a significant milestone with the first-ever deployment of three deep-sea environmental monitoring mooring arrays north of Aitutaki (figure 1). Conducted under approved exploration licences, this initiative was a joint effort between Moana Minerals Limited (MML) and Cobalt Seabed Resources Limited (CSR).

Media ReleaseDede Mingi4 March 2025Cook Islands, Deepsea Research, Ocean Science, Responsible Exploration, Seabed Minerals, Deep Sea Monitoring, Marine Conservation, Sustainable Oceans, Environmental Research, Climate Action, Scientific Exploration, Moana Science, Pacific Innovation, Ocean Data, Marine Ecosystem, Blue Economy, Future Oceans

A Deep-Sea Milestone: Cook Islands and China Partner on Sustainable Seabed Resource Development

The Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) has entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Blue Partnership in the Field of Seabed Minerals Affairs with the Ministry of Natural Resources of the People’s Republic of China, reinforcing a shared commitment to marine cooperation, sustainable resource management, and advancing deep-sea research.

Media Release, Press ReleaseDede Mingi21 February 2025Seabed Minerals, Cook Islands SBMA, Blue Partnership, Seabed Minerals Governance, Deep Sea Research, Sustainable Oceans, Marine Cooperation, Environmental Stewardship, Capacity Building, Technology Transfer, Scientific Collaboration, Blue Economy, Sustainable Development

Advancing Innovation: SBMA Expands Global Collaboration for Marine Research

The Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) is participating in the State Visit to China from 10-14 February, alongside the Cook Islands Government Delegation. This visit focused on capacity building, research, and scientific collaborations.

Media ReleaseDede Mingi13 February 2025Cook Islands, SBMA, Blue Economy, Scientific Research, Marine Conservation, Seabed Mining, Environmental Sustainability, Ocean Exploration, International Collaboration, Transparency And Accountability, Marine Science, Global Partnerships, Governance, Deep Sea Research, Public Engagement, Resource Management

OPSC Media Release: Pacific Diplomats strengthen skills through New Zealand training

The Office of the Public Service Commissioner (OPSC)in partnership with the New Zealand High Commission (NZHC), is pleased to announce that Messrs Te Ara Henderson Senior Policy & Legal Officer, Seabed Minerals Authority) and Mani Mate (Director, Development Coordination Division, MFEM were selected to participate in the Pacific Diplomatic Training Programme—a professional development initiative aimed at equipping emerging public servants with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate regional and international diplomacy.

Media ReleaseDede Mingi31 January 2025Public Service, Diplomatic Training, Pacific Diplomacy, Foreign Policy, Regional Cooperation, Professional Development, Cook Islands, Seabed Minerals, MFEM, International Relations, NZ High Commission, Capacity Building, Geo Strategy, Bilateral Relations, Multilateral Engagement, Development Partners

SBMA Advances Regional Dialogue on Deep-Sea Governance in Tahiti

The Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) participated in the second meeting of the IRD Regional Dialogue Platform on the Deep-Sea in the Pacific, held in Tahiti from 10–12 December 2024. This significant event brought together diverse stakeholders from across the Pacific to deepen discussions on deep-sea knowledge and governance, building on insights from the inaugural meeting in Nouméa earlier this year.

Media ReleaseDede Mingi16 December 2024Cook Islands, Seabed, Seabed Governance, Deep Sea Dialogue, Pacific Oceans, SBMA Tahiti 2024, Pacific Partnerships, Regional Collaboration, Deep Sea Governance, Ocean Dialogue, Shared Ocean Resources, Future of Our Oceans, Deep Sea Science, Deep Sea Discussions, Regional Dialogue Platform, Oceans Together, UN Ocean Confererence

Resignation of the Seabed Minerals Commissioner

The Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) regretfully announces the resignation of Alex Herman as Seabed Minerals Commissioner, marking the conclusion of an impactful chapter in SBMA’s history.

SBMA Release: Strengthening Ties Through Seabed Minerals Consultations with New Zealand Communities

The Cook Islands Government, led by Prime Minister Honourable Mark Brown, recently completed a week-long series of consultations with Cook Islands communities across New Zealand. The delegation visited Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Tokoroa, sharing updates on the development of the Seabed Minerals (SBM) sector and fostering meaningful dialogue with the Cook Islands diaspora.

Media ReleaseDede Mingi25 November 2024Cook Islands, SBMA, Seabed Minerals, Community Consultations, Diaspora Engagement, Sustainable Development, Marae Moana, Diaspora Connections, Building Together

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