By Phil McCabe, member of the KASM committee and Deep Sea Conservation Coalition
The Cook Islands Prime Minister, Mark Brown, is touring Aotearoa to consult on Deep Sea Mining (DSM) with Cook Islanders living here. And I assume his peers in Wellington. The Prime Minister is on track to press play on massive-scale ocean destruction, by way of permitting DSM in Cook Island waters.
My observation over several years is that he is perhaps the most fervent political supporter of mining the deep sea globally. In 2022 he gave five year exploration licences to three companies. A few weeks ago he enacted exploitation legislation. His course is in stark contrast to the majority of Pacific governments.
The Prime Minister and his government have been criticised, by informed Cook Islanders, for imbalanced consultations with Island communities. I understand his delegation lacks those who raise concerns with DSM.
Will his consultations this week be balanced?
Will it include the recognition that based on current scientific understanding of deep sea ecosystems and ecosystem functions, there is no way to determine the full breadth and severity of the environmental impacts of deep sea mining? And that it would take at least a decade, more likely three, to fill the scientific gaps? Will he inform his people of the warnings from hundreds of marine scientists to pause his plans and let science catch up?
Will he speak to the known impacts, such as the permanent loss of biodiverse seafloor habitat over vast areas? Will he outline the uncertain environmental, social and economic impacts, such as the risks to tuna fisheries from toxic waste water plumes?
Will he mention the constant and significant noise associated with this industry that would alter the aquatic soundscape over vast areas, impacting whales and other species?
Will he reference the risks to regional peace and security that come with greenlighting a decades-long resource race and all that comes with that?
There is growing concern and opposition to his plans on the ground in the Cook Islands and from countries across the Pacific region and beyond, who can plainly see that this activity is inappropriate in our 21st century world.
In my view, the prudent course of action would be:
1. To support a regional and global moratorium on deep-sea mining.
2. To recognise the deep ocean is our greatest ally in stabilising the climate and feeding humans and to enshrine its protection.
3. To harness the opportunities of scientific focus directed toward better understanding the deep ocean and developing ocean-based economic opportunities that are sustainable in perpetuity.
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