US And Cook Islands To Study Deep-Sea Mining Possibilities

The US recently announced that it will cooperate with the Cook Islands, which has a tuna-rich EEZ, “to advance scientific research and the responsible development of seabed mineral resources.” The US Department of State stated that the cooperation will affirm their “commitment to scientific advancement, mutual prosperity, economic self-reliance, and environmental stewardship as we partner to map and research the Cook Islands’ seabed mineral resources.”

The latest move shows that the Cook Islands is one of the Pacific Island nations that is determined to allow deep-sea mining in its waters, unlike Papua New Guinea or the Marshall Islands, which have put their foot down on this topic. In February, China and the Cook Islands signed a five-year agreement for cooperation on seabed minerals in the realms of exploration, research, technology transfer, and ecosystem study, but this deal does not include any mining or exploitation license. Countries cannot initiate any deep-sea mining activities until the International Seabed Authority (ISA) approves a full-scale commercial extraction. Experts have pointed out how deep-sea mining can impact the tuna migration patterns in the Pacific Ocean, leading to changes in fishing and eventually destroying economies that largely rely on this activity.