deep sea mining
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — As the federal government considers opening U.S. territorial waters to deep sea mining, Pacific Island communities and territorial governments are going on record to oppose the imposition of these activities, warning of irreversible harm to ocean ecosystems, cultural...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Research commissioned by Greenpeace, showing that deep sea mining in the Cook Islands is unlikely to make any money, is being rejected by the country's government.
The research, performed by Trytten Consulting Services in October last year, reviewed the economic...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — More than 3,000 people from U.S. territories have signed a petition opposing proposed deep seabed mining in waters near the Mariana Islands and American Samoa, warning of irreversible environmental damage and the exclusion of Indigenous communities from decision-making....
PAGO PAGO, American Samoa — On November 19, 2025, the American Samoa Government acknowledged the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)’s recent press release regarding the completion of the Area Identification step of the lease sale process, which determines the specific area of the Outer...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In case you’re wondering what’s new after the local public outcry about the US through the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) planning to sell leases that would allow offshore mining of certain areas of outer continental shelf (OCS) for American Samoa — on November...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — There is still not enough known about the seafloor to decide if deep sea mining can start in the Cook Islands, an ocean scientist with the government authority in charge of seabed minerals says.
The Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) returned last week from a...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Cook Islands is still a long way from being ready to mine its seafloor, says ocean scientist and executive director of the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute, Professor Adam Soule.
Professor Soule made the comment after returning from a 21-day research cruise, "Deep...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — July 1970. The Cold War is thawing, but far from over; the Nixon government is retreating from Vietnam in the face of an enormous anti-war movement; and a corporation called Deepsea Ventures is conducting the world’s first deep sea mining test on the Blake Plateau, 300...
Pago Paago, AMERICAN SAMOA — French Polynesia's president wants Pacific countries to agree to a moratorium on deep sea mining despite the wide range of views on the issue in the region.
Moetai Brotherson represents one of the Pacific countries calling for a moratorium, alongside the likes of Palau...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In recent years, Pacific island nations have earned global credibility as champions of climate action. Pacific leaders view sea level rise as an existential threat.
But this united front is now under strain as some Pacific nations pursue a controversial new industry –...