By Losirene Lacanivalu, Cook Islands News
Over 150 people headed out to sea in vessels of all sizes to promote their call for ocean protection. Photo: Supplied / Ocean Ancestors
Cook Islands government is misleading the public into believing the country is undecided on whether to allow deep seabed mining, claims an advocate for ocean conservation and protection.
Louisa Castledine's comments come following a letter sent to the president of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) by eight deep seabed mining companies, including the Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC), asking for regulations required for seabed mining to be adopted this year.
CIIC, a statutory corporation of the Cook Islands government, has a joint venture with the Belgian company GSR. This joint venture, Cobalt Seabed Resources Limited (CSR), holds exploration rights in the Cook Islands Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as well as in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ).
In the letter, these companies stated that they had entered into contracts for the exploration of the seabed mineral resources in the CCZ and expressed concern regarding the delay in turning these exploration licences into mining licences.
Local environmental group Te Ipukarea Society has earlier stated that the fact the Government joint venture company is requesting the ISA approve exploitation (mining) regulations this year, even though the rules governing mining are far from finalised, "is embarrassing".
Cook Islands News has contacted CIIC chief executive officer Allan Jensen, whose signature is on the letter, for comment and information regarding their seabed mining plans.
Castledine, who serves as a spokesperson for ocean advocacy collective, Ocean Ancestors, said government's push through CIIC for a seabed mining licence is a "total breach of trust, placing profit ahead of people".
"Our government is misleading the public into believing that we, as a country, are undecided on whether we are going to allow deep seabed mining," Castledine told Cook Islands News.
"Their actions indicate clear intentions to proceed regardless of research findings. This false narrative is used to create an illusion of diligence while undermining the community in the pursuit of mining."
Castledine said they have not agreed to seabed mining and have received no substantial research findings to inform them as key stakeholders.
"Instead, the government appears to prioritise investor expectations over community engagement. Who is speaking in this letter? Who does Cook Islands Investment Corporation represent? Is it our government? Is it their corporate partners? Because we the Cook Islands people didn't instruct this," she said.
"It's time to move beyond superficial engagements and consult our people genuinely and fairly."
According to the letter dated January 14, 2025, the companies are concerned with the delay in turning exploration licences into mining licences and asked that the mining regulations that are required before mining can start to be adopted this year, so they can move forward with their intended mining activity.
The letter stated: "Without the adoption of exploitation regulations, contractors face escalating legal and financial risks that were not foreseen or expected at the time we made our investments."
"It is not acceptable and unfair that we contractors continue to meet our obligations, while the Council continuously misses its own deadlines, fails to meet its obligations, and has not delivered on its responsibilities.
"We therefore respectfully call on the Council to adhere to its decision in ISBA/28/C/24 and complete the adoption of the Exploitation Regulations by 2025 in order to (among other things) not breach the legitimate expectations of contractors as part of ensuring we are afforded fair and equitable treatment as required under UNCLOS and our contracts.
"The successful and timely adoption of these regulations is critical to all stakeholders and will provide comfort that deep-sea mineral resources are developed responsibly and the marine environment is protected, in line with UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea)."
Castledine said these corporations, including CIIC, are making demands that leverage the money they've invested to pressure decisions that "we have been given no guarantees on".
"They are stating their 'expectations' as if their investment gives them entitlement. We can see the start of a power struggle as opportunists demand returns on their investments, exposing our Islands' vulnerability and our inability to refuse," she said.
"This can shift the balance of power, from a partnership into a dictatorship. While claiming that research is necessary for decision-making, our government is simultaneously making demands to the International Seabed Authority to permit mining in international waters.
"They are advocating for corporate interests and reassuring investors of their intentions."
Castledine said it also highlights the dangers of state-owned enterprises operating independently of public oversight.
"They are pursuing profit under the guise of benefiting the community, all while lacking transparency and democratic principles. Unfortunately, we have naively allowed these entities to dictate at our table.
"This conflict pits profit against cultural preservation, testing the fine line between these interests and exposing the priorities and representation of our government. Whose interests do they truly serve?"
Castledine added that a referendum should be considered, perhaps at the same time as the one for Cook Islands passports.
"If the expectation is that we spoke when voting them into power, we will vote differently for the future of our deep sea, and the legacy of our tupuna, for our tamariki."
-This article was first published by Cook Islands News.
