Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority
Runanga Takere Moana
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News & Press Releases

 
 

You can read all the latest news and updates on the Cook Islands seabed minerals sector here.

 
Opposition welcomes regulations, warns against premature mining
Opposition welcomes regulations, warns against premature mining

The Opposition leader has welcomed the regulatory framework for deep-sea mining but maintains the stance against any mining activities until ‘environmentally friendly technology’ is available and Cook Islanders are fully involved.

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CI NEWSDede MingiDeep Sea Mining, Cook Islands, Environmental Protection, Sustainable Mining, Regulatory Frameworks, Tina Pupuke Browne, Opposition Stance, No Mining Without Tech, Protect Our Oceans, Responsible Mining, Environmental Standards, Cook Islands Policy, Talanoa Dialogue, Seabed Minerals, Public Consultation, Inclusive Decision Making, Science Based Decisions, Future Focused, Global Standards, Minerals Harvesting
Cook Islands deep sea mining poll sparks controversy
Cook Islands deep sea mining poll sparks controversy

An online opinion poll on deep sea mining has been criticised by the government regulator responsible for overseeing seabed minerals activities in the Cook Islands as “fundamentally flawed”.

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CI NEWSDede MingiDeep Sea Mining, Cook Islands, Rarotonga, Seabed Mining, Ocean Conservation, Seabed Minerals, Environmental Impact, Sustainable Oceans, Te Puna Vai Marama, Marine Research, Polymetallic Nodules, Ocean Governance, Public Poll, Marine Ecosystem, Science Based Decisions, Minerals Exploration, Sustainable Development, Marine Biodiversity, Seabed Exploration, Public Opinion, Environmental Protection
Letter to the Editor: Govt denies muzzling workers, despite environmentalist claims
Letter to the Editor: Govt denies muzzling workers, despite environmentalist claims

The Public Service Commissioner denies any government protocol restricting public servants from speaking publicly against seabed mining, after claims made by an environmental campaigner.

June Hosking, president of the environment group Te Ipukarea Society, claims that government workers, including those in leadership roles, are being restricted from speaking publicly against seabed mining.

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CI NEWSDede MingiCook Islands, Rarotonga, Seabed Mining, Ocean Protection, Freedom of Speech, Environmental Rights, Public Service, Protect Our Oceans, TIS, Peaceful Protest, Rarotonga Event, Save our Seas, Environmental Activism, Ocean Lovers, Public Servants, Speak up for the Ocean
PM Brown urges Pacific unity on deep-sea mining
PM Brown urges Pacific unity on deep-sea mining

Cook Islands Prime Minister and former chair of the Forum, Mark Brown is urging Pacific Island leaders to come together on a collective stance on deep-sea mining, ahead of a key talanoa session set for next month.

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CI NEWSDede MingiPacific Leaders, Deep Sea Mining, Talanoa Session, Seabed Minerals, Marine Protection, Sustainable Ocean, Pacific Unity, Environmental Stewardship, Economic Opportunities, Pacific Islands Forum, Ocean Governance, Sovereign Rights, Marine Environment, Centre of Excellence, Pacific Science, Regulatory Frameworks, Evidence Based Policy, Pacific Collaboration, Ocean Conservation, Pacific Leadership
Seven Hundred Trillion Reasons: The Unseen Scale of Cook Islands' Seabed Resources
Seven Hundred Trillion Reasons: The Unseen Scale of Cook Islands' Seabed Resources

Exploring the Hidden Treasure: Cook Islands' Polymetallic Nodules 

When you think of the Cook Islands, a few things might come to mind—relaxed holidays, vibrant tivaevae, and, less excitingly, the high price of fish. But ask a marine geologist, and they will tell you that the Cook Islands are famous for something much more significant: a massive deposit of polymetallic nodules. 

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SBMA Science ArticleDede MingiSeabed Minerals, Ocean Resources, Cook Islands, Rarotonga, Deep Sea Treasure, Marine Geology, Polymetallic Nodules, Deep Ocean Exploration, Sustainable Mining, Harvesting, Cobalt Harvesting, Vast Resources, Future of Mining, Seabed Science, Ocean Wealth, Scale of Nodules, Deep Sea Mysteries
Joint Media Release MFAI & SBMA: Cook Islands participation at International Seabed Authority's 29th Council and Assembly Sessions
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.

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Joint ReleaseDede MingiCook Islands, Seabed Minerals, ISA 29th Council, Pacific Islands, Moana Nui O Kiva, Ocean Stewardship, Sustainable Development, Environmental Protection, Women In Science, Deep Sea Mining, Global Oceans, ISA, Pacific Unity, Responsible Leadership, Marine Conservation, Global Collaboration, SBMA, Cook Islands Delegation, Island Nations, Ocean Governance, Climate Action, Blue Economy
Cook Islands at the forefront: Women in Science Expedition awarded at ISA
Cook Islands at the forefront: Women in Science Expedition awarded at ISA

The International Seabed Authority “ISA at 30” programme has awarded a significant grant to a Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) led proposal, Women in Scientific Expedition (WISE). This award is a testament to the Cook Islands’ growing role in global ocean governance and its commitment to advancing deep-sea research and empowering women in science.

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Media ReleaseDede MingiCook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority, Cook Islands, Rarotonga, WomenInScience, WISEExpedition, OceanGovernance, Deep Sea Research, ISA at 30, Empower Women, Marine Science, Sustainable Oceans, Pacific Leadership, Global Collaboration, Gender Equality, Seabed Minerals, Environmental Stewardship, Capacity Building
SBMA Science Series: The Meg Was Here!
SBMA Science Series: The Meg Was 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].

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SBMA Science ArticleDede MingiDeep Ocean, Seabed Minerals, Cook Islands, Sustainable Exploration, Marine Ecosystem, Megalodon, Fossils, Polymetallic Nodules, Marine Life, Ocean Floor, Deep Sea Trash, Calcium Carbonate, Carbonate Compensation Depth, Marine Conservation, Marine Predators, Extinct Species, Paleoceanography, Marine Geology, Fossil Dating, Environmental Impact
Release: Cook Islands reiterates commitments to ocean conservation and management at Our Ocean Conference 2024
Release: Cook Islands reiterates commitments to ocean conservation and management at Our Ocean Conference 2024

“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.

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Joint ReleaseDede MingiOur Conservation, Our Oceans Conference, Cook Islands Leadership, Sustainable Oceans, Marae Moana, Prime Minister Mark Brown, Pacific Initiatives, Ocean Protection, Cook Islands Advocacy, Blue Pacific Continent, Ocean Leaderships, Our Oceans 2024, Regional Partnerships, Sustainable Fisheries, Plastic Pollution Solution, Ocean Governance, Marine Protection, Cook Islands Commitment, Pacific Leadership, Deep Ocean Science, Climate Resilience, Pacific Diplomacy, Ocean Stewardship, Global Cooperation, Blue Prosperity, Pacific Resilience, Seabed Minerals, Environmental Stewardship, Ocean Advocacy, Pacific Forum Leadership, Cook Islands