Cook Islands Welcomes E/V Nautilus for 21-Day Deep-Sea Science Research Cruise

Later this week, the Cook Islands will welcome the arrival of the exploration vessel E/V Nautilus, a world-class platform for deep-sea discovery. Over the course of a 21-day science mission beginning 1 October 2025, the Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) and its partners will work alongside the Nautilus team to explore and better understand the hidden depths of Marae Moana.

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).

SBMA Advances Regional Dialogue on Deep-Sea Governance in Tahiti

The Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) participated in the second meeting of the IRD Regional Dialogue Platform on the Deep-Sea in the Pacific, held in Tahiti from 10–12 December 2024. This significant event brought together diverse stakeholders from across the Pacific to deepen discussions on deep-sea knowledge and governance, building on insights from the inaugural meeting in Nouméa earlier this year.

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