An image from the National Oceanography Centre shows a carnivorous sponge, photographed during an expedition to the NE Pacific abyss and found in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ). A recent executive order by US President Donald Trump could open the door to Nauru deep sea mining in the CCZ.
Photo: National Oceanography Centre/ AFP
The head of the UN body mandated to develop regulations for seabed mining in international waters says Pacific countries are playing a big role in shaping the regulations that will govern the future industry.
International Seabed Authority (ISA) secretary-general Leticia Carvalho was in Fiji last week conducting training for Pacific Island nations on what it means to be a sponsoring state of a potential seabed mining company.
There is great interest from the likes of China and the United States in polymetallic nodules found on the deep seabed in parts of the Pacific Ocean’s international waters.
These nodules are rich in minerals such as copper, cobalt and nickel. These metals are highly valued in modern tech – but it remains uncertain how damaging mining would be to the marine environment.
![International Seabed Authority secretary-general elect, Leticia Carvalho [left] of Brazil, is congratulated by a member of the Cook Islands delegation following her election on Aug. 2, 2024 in Kingston, Jamaica.](https://media.rnztools.nz/rnz/image/upload/s--NR2nmSIU--/ar_16:10,c_fill,f_auto,g_auto,q_auto,w_1050/v1722650523/4KM0VON_825b0947_3309_447f_b0bf_14df707c0f63_jpeg?_a=BACCd2AD)
International Seabed secretary-general Leticia Carvalho
Photo: Stephen Wright/BenarNews
Carvalho told Pacific Waves the region is very important to the ISA process of developing rules for mining, given the strong country positions both for and against.
“Some of them are really close to the idea of mining in the deep sea outside of national jurisdiction. Others are very much attached to the environmental safeguards and cautious about this activity, therefore this region has a big role in shaping the regime.”
She said she respects the opposing views Pacific countries have on the potential future industry.
In Fiji, she met with representatives of Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) member countries and civil society organisations.
She said these are sovereign positions and her role is not to judge but rather to facilitate dialogue.
“And that is why I am here for capacity building, training, bringing my team to support these countries to better understand how they can make decisions internally and how they can sit at the table with others to find consensus in the multilateral space.”
She also acknowledged there were some civil society complaints about exclusion from the training but she clarified that the list of participants was constructed based on the relevance of the subject matter.
“So this training was particularly formulated to get government officials more enlightened about the responsibilities and how to make deals with contractors and investors.”
Carvahlo said some representatives of civil society networks were present as observers but it was not possible to invite everyone.
Before she left Fiji, Carvahlo did meet with a group of civil society representatives. She says it was good for her to hear their concerns firsthand.
“They still see a big gap in their participation and their voices to be heard in the decision making.
“It was very enlightening for me to see that there is still work to be done in this region to make that communities can really engage and shape and influence decision making.”
The ISA boss encouraged all Pacific Island countries, regardless of their stance on deep sea mining, to participate fully in the International Seabed Authority meetings to make use of this historic opportunity to develop the proper regulations for an industry before it actually begins.
