International Seabed Authority

The Cook Islands role as a Sponsoring State.

A state party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Cook Islands is a Sponsoring State at the International Seabed Authority (ISA). It sponsors a company—CIIC Seabed Resources Ltd., a state-owned enterprise—to explore for polymetallic nodules in the international seabed area known as "the Area."

As a Sponsoring State, the Cook Islands has key responsibilities. These include:

• Ensuring effective control and oversight of the sponsored entity’s activities to prevent harm to the marine environment.

• Establishing legal and regulatory frameworks to govern seabed mineral activities responsibly.

• Monitoring compliance with ISA rules and ensuring that exploration activities align with international best practices.