Joint Media Release MFAI & SBMA: Cook Islands participation at International Seabed Authority's 29th Council and Assembly Sessions

A Cook Islands delegation, led by Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Honourable Sonny Williams, attended the International Seabed Authority's (ISA) 29th Council and Assembly Sessions, held in Kingston, Jamaica, from 15 July to 2 August. The Commissioner Alex Herman and Senior Knowledge Management Officer Rima Browne from the Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) attended the Council meetings and were later joined by the Assistant Minister and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Foreign Service Officer, Tatryanna Utanga, for the Assembly.

SBMA Opinion: Two-year milestone for seabed minerals exploration licences

Last month marked two years since the country’s first seabed minerals exploration licences were issued on 23 February 2022. A major milestone and achievement for the Cook Islands after many years of preparation.

Rima Browne receives international award for Deep-Sea Research Excellence

Senior Knowledge Management Officer Rima Browne is this year’s recipient of the ISA Secretary General’s award for excellence in deep-sea research, after her new geomorphological map of the Cook Islands was nominated for consideration by researchers from the Pacific Community and Norway.

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.

Seabed mining workshop to focus on environmental management

LOCAL government officials, traditional leaders, and non-governmental organisations have been invited to a four-day virtual seabed mining workshop next week that aims to focus on environmental management and monitoring aspects of operating in the deep sea.

Prime Minister opens seabed side-event at the 2021 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown made his opening remarks at a side-event of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (Forum) held from 6 to 15 July.

International Seabed Authority (ISA) Hosted HLPF 2021 Side Event

Today, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) hosted a side event on “Ensuring the sustainable management and stewardship of the deep seabed and its resources for the benefit of all humanity.” The event, organized in the margins of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development 2021, was co-sponsored by the Cook Islands, Ghana, Jamaica, Korea, Malta, Norway, Singapore, South Africa and Ifremer (France).

Transition to low-carbon economy

COOK Islands can play a major role in supporting the global transition to a low-carbon economy, says Prime Minister Mark Brown. Speaking at the 26th Cobalt Conference hosted virtually by the Cobalt Institute from May 18 and 19.

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