Cook Islands Government through the Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) has revealed that the exploration of deep sea mining will continue for a few more years giving time for findings to be analysed and this will take months and years.

The minerals authority in a statement has clarified that the government will continue to encourage further deep ocean scientific research throughout Cook Islands’ waters, adding that they will continue the Exploration Research Programme over the next few years.

Cook Islands is currently in its third year of a five-year exploration phase to determine the feasibility of deep-sea mining for polymetallic nodules rich in cobalt, copper, nickel and manganese.

Last month, Prime Minister Mark Brown revealed that there is a possibility of extending the exploration time frame beyond five years, depending on the satisfaction derived from the data and findings of the three companies conducting the exploration of the country’s seabed.

Meanwhile, the Women in Science Expedition (WISE) was completed at the end September 2024, which was co-led by a local scientist, Rima Browne.

“The data from that expedition will be gathered and analyzed over the coming months and years. The insights gained will benefit the Cook Islands for years, and even decades, to come,” SBMA stated.

“We will continue to engage with our Cook Islands people to ensure that decisions in this sector are in the interests and for the benefit of our country and future generations.  

“We understand and acknowledge there are individuals and community groups that are unsure about, and question this journey the Cook Islands is on. We humbly invite you all to please make contact with SBMA to discuss your questions and concerns with us.”

SBMA highlighted that in line with the precautionary approach, any future decision on whether or not we will allow minerals harvesting to occur must be science based. 

In order to achieve this, SBMA said more data is needed and information about the nature of Cook Islands’ mineral resources and the marine environment, to better understand and address the potential environmental impacts and likely commercial viability.

SBMA added that this understanding can only be obtained through exploration and research work, which is why the exploration programme is important.