Overall, Prime Minister Brown was pleased with the three Pa Enua consultations.
“It was great to see our people’s interest in our SBM sector, and to receive their questions and feedback,” he said, “This is the whole purpose of our consultations: to engage with our people and to hear their views and concerns. It takes a lot of effort, but we are committed to it.” One of the Seabed Minerals Authority’s key priorities for 2021 is stakeholder engagement, in particular with its Cook Islands people.
A closer look at the potential impact of nodule mining on the megafauna associated with nodules in the Cook Islands EEZ from Penrhyn southward to Aitutaki and Palmerston. By Gerald McCormack, Director of the Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust.
Making his first official stop on a round trip of several northern group islands that he’ll be visiting this coming week, Prime Minister Mark Brown arrived in Palmerston on Thursday evening – the first time he has visited the island in his official capacity as PM.
A government delegation led by Prime Minister Mark Brown has taken advantage of a scheduled voyage to the northern group to visit the islands of Palmerston, Suwarrow, Pukapuka and Nassau for a series of consultations on matters regarding Marae Moana, seabed minerals and quarantine-free travel.
Democratic Party Opposition leader Tina Pupuke Browne says in a media release, that a recent meeting with the Seabed Minerals Authority commissioner has helped give some reassurance that the agency will employ the highest good governance principles. Browne says she and her team welcomed the meeting with Commissioner Alex Herman and the opportunity to clarify a number of issues.
While Covid-19 appears to have given earth time to heal, some governments are reportedly using the pandemic to hurt conservation efforts across the globe.
ECO magazine asked the international research community to nominate Deep-Sea Heroes to recognise the individuals and groups making a significant contribution to deep-sea research, policy, and exploration, and Seabed Minerals Authority Commissioner, Alex Herman is one of those selected.
