A Call to Pacific Governments to support a Ban Deep Sea Mining

Media Statement 20th February 2025

The Pacific Blue Line Collective and partners, representing Pacific civil society organisations (CSOs), faith-based groups, youth, women’s organisations, and movements, remain steadfast in their position for an outright ban on deep-sea mining (DSM) in the Pacific. We remind Pacific Leaders of their longstanding responsibility to the protection of the Pacific Ocean.

As the Pacific Island Leaders meet for the High-level Talanoa on Deep Sea Minerals at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat this week, it is vital that the duty of care to safeguard our oceans is at the forefront of discussions.

The collective calls for a complete ban on DSM in the Pacific until thorough, independent scientific evaluations and inclusive consultations with impacted communities are carried out. This stance reflects the shared dedication to protecting the rights of Pacific peoples, preserving our oceans, and ensuring that any development in the region adheres to the principles of sustainability, human rights, and fairness for future generations.

Currently, no commercial DSM operations are underway. However, the Pacific Island nations of Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, and Tonga hold exploration contracts in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), alongside 13 contracts held by major global powers. In addition, there are five exploration contracts in the Western Pacific and nine across other areas of the global ocean. While exploration and test mining are actively taking place, full-scale commercial mining has not yet begun.

The Pacific Ocean is central to the identity, culture, and livelihoods of Pacific Island peoples, fostering a deep connection that spans generations. However, external industries, including mining, have increasingly sought to exploit marine ecosystems, often dismissing their inherent value and the rights of Pacific communities. Pacific nations must reaffirm their duty to protect ocean health as a fundamental human right, aligning with global frameworks such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The region’s story is one of guardianship, not one to be taken advantage of. Alternative development pathways exist that prioritise environmental protection over DSM and safeguard the rights of Pacific peoples.

This year aligns with several significant global milestones, including the UN Decade of Ocean Science, the 3rd UN National Oceans Conference, ongoing efforts to implement the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) 30×30 target, and the anticipated adoption of the new treaty on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ). Additionally, the UDAUNE Declaration on Climate Change, a significant commitment by the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), reinforces the critical state of ocean health and the impacts of climate change. This declaration illustrates sub-regional leadership in addressing ocean and climate issues and reaffirms the MSG’s shared responsibility to protect marine biodiversity, recognising its cultural and ecological importance.

The decisions that are made in the coming months will influence the trajectory of our environmental governance for generations to come. It is paramount that Pacific Leaders ensure that our positions on DSM are consistent with the broader goals of environmental protection, sustainability, and climate resilience. These objectives must guide our actions in the international arena, particularly as they relate to the International Seabed Authority (ISA) and related international bodies.

Therefore, Pacific governance has long been guided by key principles essential to protecting our ocean and its resources. These include the Precautionary Principle, the “No Harm” Rule, Transboundary Responsibility, the integration of Indigenous knowledge with modern science, and a strong sense of moral responsibility.

Evidence points to the fact that DSM poses significant environmental risks to fragile marine ecosystems that are not yet fully understood. For Pacific communities, the ocean is central to cultural practices, food security, and livelihoods, particularly for women engaged in fishing and seaweed gathering. DSM also threatens the region’s critical tuna fisheries, a major economic driver for many Pacific Island nations. Despite years of negotiations, the ISA has yet to finalise a regulatory framework due to unresolved issues and complex negotiations. Additionally, the long-term social and economic impacts on vulnerable Pacific communities have not been thoroughly assessed, with many studies overstating potential benefits and downplaying the risks.

The decisions made by Pacific Leaders this week will have profound and lasting consequences for the Pacific and future generations. As custodians of this vast ocean, Pacific Leaders bear a shared responsibility to safeguard its health for the benefit of all living beings and the ecosystems they depend on as a sacred, moral and inherent responsibility to future generations and the planet as a whole.

We call for our Pacific Leaders to:

1. Prioritise the protection of our oceans, and assert the rights of our people;
2. Ensure that our development path aligns with our values of sustainability, justice, and guardianship.

We must act with urgency to halt DSM before it begins. Together, we can safeguard the future of our Pacific, ensuring that our legacy is one of protection, not exploitation.