You can read all the latest news and updates on the Cook Islands seabed minerals sector here.
When you think of the deep ocean, you might imagine mysterious creatures, sunken ships, and lost treasures. However, the reality is a bit more surprising—and a lot more cluttered. Shoes, plastic bags, glass bottles, fishing gear, and even entire shipping containers can be found scattered across the ocean floor. One particularly eye-opening discovery was a beer bottle found in the Challenger Deep, the deepest part of the ocean, over 10,000 meters down [1].
Read More“As Cook Islanders and Pacific peoples, we have an imbedded culture of conservation and environmental management over our land and sea. This has enabled us to sustainably use our marine resources while also ensuring its protection. We have been doing this for centuries. We are conservationists.” This was the message Prime Minister Mark Brown conveyed during his recent attendance at the Our Ocean conference held in Athens, Greece.
Read MoreIn the Cook Islands, we are embarking on an exciting journey to explore our Exclusive Economic Zone1, delving into the depths in search of polymetallic nodules (or simply nodules) and other scientific discoveries. Our mission involves gathering data from a vast area of the ocean, our Marae Moana, and over the next few years we will talk about some of the exciting science and technology that make this voyage possible.
Read More“You cannot manage what you cannot measure” said Prime Minister Mark Brown at the Ocean Decade Conference held in Barcelona, Spain from 10-12 April themed 'The science we need for the ocean we want'.
Read MoreThis is the first of a series of science articles SBMA will be releasing. Join us on a journey of discovery focused on our Marae Moana. This article is all about the ocean and underlying seabed.
Read MoreAlex Herman and Dr. John Parianos confirmed the Cook Islands' participation in the Noumea platform, highlighting the Cook Islands' deep-sea policy and the achievements as well as challenges faced by the Seabed Minerals Authority in this area. The Secretary of State for the Sea has requested the IRD spearhead a collaborative scientific evaluation that concentrates on deep-sea knowledge and governance.
Read MorePrime Minister Mark Brown led a Cook Islands delegation to the SAFE Summit 2024, which took place in Washington, DC from 12th to 13th March, to discuss the sustainable development of the seabed minerals sector. Key officials in the delegation included Alex Herman, Commissioner of Seabed Minerals, Dr. John Parianos, Director of Knowledge Management, and Garth Henderson, Financial Secretary.
Read MoreTe-Ara Henderson, Senior Policy and Legal Officer of the Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) attended Part I of the 29th Session of the Council. The Council sessions are hosted three times a year at the headquarters of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) in Kingston, Jamaica. The Cook Islands is a member state and sponsoring state of an Exploration Licence in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone.
Read MoreIn a bid to bolster sustainable development and explore collaboration opportunities, representatives from the Cook Islands have actively participated in a recent International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP) focused on "Sustainability and Economic Development in the Blue Economy."
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