SBMA strengthens regulatory capability through South Australia exchange

The Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) hosted two officers from South Australia’s Department for Energy and Mining (DEM) in September as part of a regulator to regulator exchange focused on compliance, monitoring, enforcement procedures and regulatory systems.

The placement builds on an earlier exchange supported through the Australasian Environmental Law Enforcement and Regulators Network (AELERT), which saw former SBMA Senior Policy and Legal Officer Te-Ara Henderson undertake a secondment with DEM in South Australia from May to July 2025.

The latest exchange brought that cooperation to Rarotonga, allowing DEM officers to work directly alongside SBMA staff on practical areas of regulatory oversight.

Dede Mingi1 October 2026Seabed Minerals Authority, SBMA, South Australia Department of Energy and Mining, DEM, Simon Matthews, Daniel Radulovic, Latishia Maui-Mataora, Beverly Ataera, Regulatory Capability, Compliance Monitoring, Regulatory Oversight, Enforcement Procedures, Exploration Regulation, Licence Compliance, Exploration Licence Renewal, Regulatory Systems, Monitoring and Reporting, Compliance Framework, Policy and Regulatory Oversight, Regulator to Regulator Exchange, South Australia Exchange, AELERT, Australiasian Environmental Law Enforcement and Regulators Network, Institutional Capacity, Knowledge Exchange, Professional Development, Regulatory Cooperation, Cook Islands, Seabed Minerals, Exploration and Research Phase, Seabed Minerals Governance, National Regulatory Framework, Cook Islands Law, Responsible Ocean Governance, National Interest

Kiribati delegation visits Cook Islands for seabed minerals governance study tour

The Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) welcomed the Honourable Ribanataake Tiwau, Minister for Fisheries and Ocean Resources of the Republic of Kiribati, and his delegation to the Cook Islands for a study tour focused on seabed minerals governance, regulation, institutional development and knowledge exchange.

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.

A Deep-Sea Milestone: Cook Islands and China Partner on Sustainable Seabed Resource Development

The Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) has entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Blue Partnership in the Field of Seabed Minerals Affairs with the Ministry of Natural Resources of the People’s Republic of China, reinforcing a shared commitment to marine cooperation, sustainable resource management, and advancing deep-sea research.

Media Release, Press ReleaseDede Mingi21 February 2025Seabed Minerals, Cook Islands SBMA, Blue Partnership, Seabed Minerals Governance, Deep Sea Research, Sustainable Oceans, Marine Cooperation, Environmental Stewardship, Capacity Building, Technology Transfer, Scientific Collaboration, Blue Economy, Sustainable Development

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