This sector is also prioritising the employment and training of Cook Islanders, which will help to empower our people, by building and most importantly retaining long term human resource capacity here in our country. Indeed, we have already benefited from capacity development programmes in this sector at the national, regional and international levels. The Authority are invested in building its in-country capacity of Cook Islanders in the SBM sector. Going forward it will be a condition for industry to offer capacity building opportunity to Cook Islanders.

Contributes to: Goals 1, 8, 14

The protection of our environment is crucial to the Cook Islands survival and the health and welfare of our people. In this respect - strong environmental management and regulation is a core focus. High environmental values will be maintained in line with the Marae Moana principles of ecologically sustainable use (link to MM page). A robust environmental management framework (EMF) in line with best environmental practices, which will include built in environmental impact assessment processes, will ensure any work undertaken in our waters will be carried out to the highest standard. Minimising impacts from the potential commercial recovery of minerals on deep sea biodiversity is a fundamental part of the EMF. We are vested in seeing this sector develop in the best way possible for the future benefit of our people. As such, we have high expectations on setting and maintaining strict standards for any potential contractors who may operate in our waters, with environmental sustainability at the forefront.

Contributes to: Goal 14

To understand and effectively manage our Marae Moana, as well as to track progress on our sustainable development goals, we need reliable, quality, and timely data. The knowledge we will be able to gain from the exploratory research is going to be invaluable. Experts and scientists from varying backgrounds in marine environment, oceanography, geology, extractive industries etc will be involved in the research. Ships exploring in our waters will be equipped with technology to enable the collection of data. Not only will Cook Islanders have the opportunity to work alongside these experts, but the Cook Islands government will also have access to and ownership over all the data collected through SBM activities.

Contributes to: Goals 6, 8, 14

The investment in the seabed minerals sector also means investment in renewable energy and potentially assist the slowing of climate change impacts. The minerals contained in our nodules are crucial to the global renewable energy revolution, particularly in the area of battery and storage solutions. Looking closer to home, our Outer Islands currently use renewable energy products like solar panels, which will eventually require replacement. Cook Islands seabed minerals could provide the material needed for those products, in order to contribute towards the sustainability of the communities in the most remote islands of the Cook Islands.

Contributes to: Goals 6, 12, 14

The Cook Islands is a large ocean state with approximately two million square kilometres of open ocean. As our largest natural resource, we have made a commitment to ensure our oceans, lagoons and marine resources are protected, managed effectively, and sustainably used for generations to come.

-NSDA