Dear Editor, The Seabed Minerals Commissioner’s letter on Monday (March 22) didn’t answer the question of what potential risks to the environment from mining were presented to communities in the pa enua.
Read MoreYou can read all the latest news and updates on the Cook Islands seabed minerals sector here.
Following a recent public consultation in the northern group and an internal policy review, the Opposition Democratic Party has come out against a ten-year moratorium on seabed mining.
Read MoreWhile Covid-19 appears to have given earth time to heal, some governments are reportedly using the pandemic to hurt conservation efforts across the globe.
Read MoreOPINION: Precautionary principle and best practise should be rigorously applied when dealing with deep sea mining, and this is what local discussion should focus on.
Read MoreThe Cook Islands opposition MP Selina Napa has asked the government to reveal what changes are being planned for the Seabed Mining Act. Ms Napa said reported statements that the changes would be made public when they are tabled in Parliament “isn’t good enough”.
Read MoreBy offering tenders for deep sea exploration the environmental risks of extracting minerals from the seabed will be able to be assessed, the Cook Islands government says. The government plans to open tenders for five-year, deep sea mining exploration licences at the beginning of next year. And while there have been concerns raised about the environmental impact of deep sea mining, the Deputy Prime Minister, Mark Brown, said the exploration phase would have a very low impact.
Read More