Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority
Runanga Takere Moana
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News & Press Releases

 
 

You can read all the latest news and updates on the Cook Islands seabed minerals sector here.

 
SBMA Heads to China for Global Deep Sea Science Training Workshop
SBMA Heads to China for Global Deep Sea Science Training Workshop

Three staff from the Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) were among 22 international participants who recently took part in the third knowledge transfer training workshop organised and fully funded by the International Seabed Authority (ISA) and the Government of China. 

Held in Qingdao from 23–27 April 2025 under the ISA-China Joint Training and Research Centre (JTRC), the training workshop focused on the science and tools needed to protect deep-sea environments through Regional Environmental Management Plans (REMPs). 

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Media ReleaseDede MingiSBMA, Cook Islands, Seabed Minerals, Marine Governance, Deep Sea Exploration, Environmental Protection, ISA Training Workshop, ISA China JTRC, Global Collaboration, Knowledge Sharing, Capacity Building, Marine Spatial Planning, Sustainable Oceans, Ocean Stewardship, Deep Sea Science, REMPS, Cook Islands Pride, Pacific Leadership, Women In Science
Feature Article | 60 Years of Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Sector: Then & Now Charting Our Journey from 1965 to 2025
Feature Article | 60 Years of Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Sector: Then & Now Charting Our Journey from 1965 to 2025

For six decades, the Cook Islands has been on a remarkable journey, exploring the vast blue frontier beneath its waters. From early discoveries in the 1960s to becoming a leader in seabed minerals governance, this story is one of vision, resilience, and responsible resource management.

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Feature ArticleDede MingiCook Islands, Seabed Minerals, SBMA, Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority, Rarotonga, 60 Years Of Progress, Seabed Exploration, Responsible Resource Management, Blue Economy, Polymetallic Nodules, Environmental Sustainability, Marine Science, Ethical Development, Seabed Mining, Seabed Minerals Governance, Scientific Research, Innovation, Community Engagement, Sustainable Development, Ecosystem Based Management, Pa Enua, Global Leadership, Technology Advancement, Cobalt Nickel Manganese, ARTEX 2023, WISE 2024, ARTEX 2025, Collaboration
Stewardship & Science: Cook Islands’ Focus on ISA’s 30th Council Session
Stewardship & Science: Cook Islands’ Focus on ISA’s 30th Council Session

The Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) continues to champion a science-first, precautionary approach to seabed minerals, as its senior representatives join international delegates at the 30th Council Session of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), held in Kingston, Jamaica, from 17 to 28 March 2025. 

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Media ReleaseDede MingiSBMA, Cook Islands, Seabed Minerals Authority, Seabed Minerals, Rarotonga, Jamaica, Seabed Mining, Science First Approach, Precautionary Approach, Environmental Stewardship, Deep Sea Mining Regulations, International Seabed Authortity (ISA), ISA 30th Council Session, Underwater Cultural Heritage, Te Kuru Pou Toru, Pacific Ocean Governance, Sustainable Development, Marine Environment Protection, Global Conversations Local Values, Cultural Responsibility, Environmental Responsibility, Science Based Decisions, Inclusive Consultation, International Cooperation, Transparency And Accountability, Sovereignty And Science, Cook Islands Priorities, Ethical Science, Future Of The Oceans, Seabed Minerals Exploration, SBMA At ISA, Equitable Ocean Governance
Consultation Process for Strategic Environment Assessment Commences
Consultation Process for Strategic Environment Assessment Commences

The Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) and the National Environmental Service (NES), in collaboration with international maritime environmental consultancy BMT, have successfully completed the technical phase of the seabed minerals Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA).

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Media ReleaseDede MingiSeabed Minerals, Cook Islands, SBMA, National Environment Services, BMT Consultancy, Strategic Environmental Assessment, SEA, Ecosystem Based Management Framework (EBMF), EBMF, Marine Spatial Assessment, Effects Assessment, Cumulative Impact Assessments, Regional Environmental Management Program, REMP, Environmental Management, Sustainable Development, Consultation Process, Ocean Stewardship, Responsible Resource Management, Environmental Impact, Cook Islands Seabed Minerals, Stakeholder Consultation, Marine Conservation, Sustainable Future, Collaborative Approach, Public Workshop, Environmental Awareness, Policy Development, Marine Resource Management
Te-Ara Henderson Completes Prestigious Pacific Diplomatic Training Programme
Te-Ara Henderson Completes Prestigious Pacific Diplomatic Training Programme

Senior policy and legal officer Te-Ara Henderson, a familiar face from the Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA), has returned home after successfully completing the second phase of his diplomatic training alongside fellow aspiring Pacific diplomats. The training was held across Suva, Fiji, and Apia, Samoa, from 10 to 24 March 2025.

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Media ReleaseDede MingiCook Islands, Rarotonga, Seabed Minerals Authority, SBMA, Pacific Diplomatic Training, Diplomatic Training Programme, Manaaki Scholarship, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Education New Zealand, Wellington Uni Professional, Capacity Building, Te-Ara Henderson, Pacific Diplomacy, Regional Collaboration, Suva Fiji, Apia Samoa, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, SPREP, Diplomatic Networking, Leadership Development, Cultural Diplomacy, International Policy, Negotiation Skills, Ocean Management, Pacific Leaders, Manaaki Alumni, Regional Cooperation, SBMA Capacity Building, Seabed Minerals, Pacific Future, Pacific Diplomats, Empowering Leaders
A ‘New’ Underwater Volcano: Rising from the Depths Near You!
A ‘New’ Underwater Volcano: Rising from the Depths Near You!

The Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA), in collaboration with other partners such as the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), University of California Santa Barbara, and Kiva Marine, recently went volcano hunting without a seabed mineral in sight. Keep reading if you want to find out why and how.

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Media ReleaseDede MingiCook Islands, Underwater Volcano, Deep Sea Exploration, SBMA Research, Marine Science, Ocean Discovery, Volcanic Hot spot, ARTEX 2025, Seafloor Mapping, Marine Conservation, Geology Rocks, Scientific Breakthrough, Marae Moana, Rarotonga, Future Expeditions, Environmental Protection, Kiva Marine, NIWA Science, UC Research, Cook Islands Nature
SBMA Release: SBMA participates in High-Level Regional Talks on Deep Sea Minerals
SBMA Release: SBMA participates in High-Level Regional Talks on Deep Sea Minerals

The Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) recently participated in the first of its kind Ministerial Talanoa on Deep Sea Minerals (DSM), convened by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva, Fiji, from 18 to 21 February 2025.

The Talanoa brought together Pacific Island Forum leaders, ministers and senior officials, and regional and international stakeholders to discuss the opportunities and challenges of DSM development and governance in the Pacific.

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Media ReleaseDede MingiSeabed Minerals, Deep Sea Minerals, Cook Islands, SBMA, Pacific Islands Forum, Talanoa, Pacific Leadership, Sustainable Development, Environmental Protection, Science Based Policy, Precautionary Approach, Ocean Governance, UNCLOS, Blue Economy, Ethical Science, Pacific Resources, Transparency, Regional Cooperation, Community Engagement, Sustainable Mining, Future Generations, Regulatory Frameworks, Pacific Values, Climate Resilience, Marine Conservation, Independent Science
Landmark Deepsea Environment Moorings Successfully Deployed in the Cook Islands
Landmark Deepsea Environment Moorings Successfully Deployed in the Cook Islands

The Cook Islands has reached a significant milestone with the first-ever deployment of three deep-sea environmental monitoring mooring arrays north of Aitutaki (figure 1). Conducted under approved exploration licences, this initiative was a joint effort between Moana Minerals Limited (MML) and Cobalt Seabed Resources Limited (CSR).

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Media ReleaseDede MingiCook Islands, Deepsea Research, Ocean Science, Responsible Exploration, Seabed Minerals, Deep Sea Monitoring, Marine Conservation, Sustainable Oceans, Environmental Research, Climate Action, Scientific Exploration, Moana Science, Pacific Innovation, Ocean Data, Marine Ecosystem, Blue Economy, Future Oceans