The marine minerals community from over 25 countries has gathered in Rarotonga, sharing ideas and knowledge on the future of seabed minerals as the 52nd Underwater Minerals Conference 2024 officially opened yesterday at the National Auditorium.

Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) Commissioner, Alex Herman, was amongst 18 experts from eight different countries who presented on various topics revolving around seabed minerals yesterday.

In her presentation, Herman emphasised the importance of the community’s voice through the Seabed Minerals Advisory Committee, which consults with community leaders to advise them of the public’s concerns.

The Committee is chaired by Bishop Tutai Pere, who has publicly supported deep sea mining of polymetallic nodules, alongside members Makiuti Tongia (vice chair), Teaoakamaru Mariri-Tepou, George George Williamson and Sam Napa.

Herman also explained and emphasised that one of the key developing areas for seabed minerals in the Cook Islands included a robust regulatory framework containing legislations such as Seabed Act, Environment Act 2003, Marae Moana Act 2017, and others.

“We also have regulations in place and we have the regulations necessary for exploration activities and we’re close to completing the regulations that are necessary to manage and regulate minerals harvesting or mining activities,” she added.

“We also have standards and guidelines in place and some that are also nearing completion … it’s a quite simple diagram but there is a lot of work that’s gone behind putting these laws in place and it’s important to have these laws and regulations in place so that we can govern activities and ensure that things are done appropriately.”

Herman added that SBMA had also learned from best practices and other international jurisdictions while following the process that was currently taking place at the International Seabed Authority.

She also stressed that there were several regulators involved in overseeing seabed minerals activities.

The conference ends on Thursday.