The Seabed Minerals Authority’s Policy and Regulatory Oversight team represented the Cook Islands at the International Seabed Authority Council meetings in Kingston, Jamaica, from 13 to 24 July 2026.

Policy and Regulatory Oversight Director Latishia Maui-Mataora and Policy and Legal Officer Lynn Mataora attended the second part of the 31st Session of the International Seabed Authority Council, where Member States continued discussions on the international rules and responsibilities for seabed minerals activities in the Area.

L-R: SBMA’s Policy & Legal Officer Lynn Mataora and Policy & Regulatory Oversight Director Latishia Maui-Mataora

The Area refers to the international seabed beyond national jurisdiction. Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the International Seabed Authority is responsible for organising, regulating, and controlling mineral-related activities in the Area for the benefit of humankind.

For the Cook Islands, participation at the Council is an important part of staying informed about international regulatory developments, particularly as detailed work continues with the draft exploitation regulations for mineral resources in the Area. The international framework remains under development, with important regulatory, environmental and institutional matters still being worked through.

The Council meetings included detailed work on the draft regulations and matters including environmental management and monitoring, compliance and enforcement, inspections, environmental information, exploration contracts, sponsoring State responsibilities, and other safeguards and institutional issues linked to the future of governance of seabed minerals activities beyond national jurisdiction.

SBMA Commissioner Beverly Ataera said the Cook Islands’ participation at the Council supports the country’s wider work to strengthen its own regulatory systems.

“The Council is where many of the detailed legal and policy discussions take place. For the Cook Islands, it is important that our policy and legal officers are present in those rooms, listening carefully, understanding the direction of the international framework, and bringing that knowledge back into our national work,” Commissioner Ataera said.

“Our participation is not only about attendance. It is about building regulatory understanding, strengthening our people, asking the right questions, and ensuring the Cook Islands remains informed as the international rules continue to develop. We need to understand these issues thoroughly so that we can make our own national decisions based on evidence and strong regulatory knowledge.

Policy and Regulatory Oversight Director Latishia Maui-Mataora said the Council meetings provided important insight into the level of detail required in international seabed minerals regulation.

“The discussions at Council are technical and complex. They cover environmental safeguards, compliance, legal responsibilities, reporting, institutional oversight, and how any future activities in the Area would be managed. These are matters that are relevant to all countries following the development of the international seabed minerals framework,” Maui-Mataora said.

“While the ISA framework applies to minerals activities in the international seabed Area, beyond national jurisdiction, following these negotiations gives Cook Islands officials valuable exposure to emerging international approaches to environmental protection, compliance, monitoring, transparency and regulatory oversight. That knowledge strengthens our capability at home, while Cook Islands decision-making remains governed by our laws and national processes.

For SBMA, the Council meetings were also important for professional development and institutional learning. Policy and Legal Officer Lynn Mataora’s participation marked her first attendance at an ISA session in her capacity as Policy and Legal Officer, providing direct exposure to the international regulatory process and supporting SBMA’s continued work to build legal and policy capability within the Authority.

SBMA said direct exposure to international negotiations is important for building legal and policy capability, particularly for small island States that must follow complex international processes while also managing national responsibilities.

Mataora said attending the Council gave her a clearer understanding of how international seabed minerals governance develops in practice.

“These meetings show how much detailed and careful work sits behind international regulation. It is not only about the final wording of rules. It is about understanding the responsibilities of States, the role of institutions, and the need for careful, evidence-based decision-making,” Mataora said.

These meetings provide real insight into the detailed and careful work that goes into developing international regulation. Several days of careful reading and intense deliberation, going back and forth over words, concepts and competing interests, have had a significant impact on my understanding of the responsibilities of States and the importance of ensuring the specific needs of States - especially for us small island developing states (SIDS) – are not left out in these developments. "For me, my first ISA session was a valuable opportunity to observe the process directly and to better understand how legal and policy discussions at the international level connect to the work we do at home.”

SBMA said the Cook Islands’ engagement at the ISA Council is part of its continued commitment to responsible ocean governance, regulatory learning, and informed national decision-making.

The Cook Islands remains in an exploration and research phase within its own national jurisdiction. No commercial seabed minerals harvesting is permitted under current exploration licences. Any future proposal would be subject to Cook Islands law, applicable to environmental, regulatory and public decision-making processes.

SBMA said its focus remains on building knowledge, strengthening regulatory and environmental oversight, developing the Cook Islands' capability, and ensuring that participation in international forums continues to support the long-term interests of the country and its people.

Stay Informed

SBMA will continue to share updates on its regulatory work, international engagement, research, partnerships and public information activities as part of its commitment to responsible seabed minerals governance.

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Cook Islands strengthens regulatory capability at ISA Council in Kingston