Charlotte Greet
Image sourced from ROV-Team/GEOMAR via Wikimedia Commons.
The South Pacific region, consisting of 15 island nations, holds a deep connection to the ocean. Its combined Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) cover more than 10 per cent of the world’s ocean surface area. The resource-rich EEZs are attracting attention from deep-sea mining stakeholders, because the minerals in them are essential for green energy technologies like wind turbines and solar panels, as well as smartphones and batteries. If undertaken, deep-sea mining would provide substantial economic opportunities to Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs). However, the limited research available about deep-sea mining and its lack of integrated environmental protections suggests that it could permanently harm marine biodiversity and ecosystems. This has sparked tension among PICTs who are already navigating the existential threat posed to their region by the effects of climate change. Because of their vested interests, both economic and environmental, PICTs must have their voices heard and respected in the deep-sea mining conversation.
Economic Benefits v. Environmental Degradation
Deep-sea mining offers a potential revenue source for PICTs that could allow them to reduce their reliance on foreign aid and play a more active role in the global economy. This is an attractive proposition for PICTs, particularly given that 6 out of 15 nations are currently in debt. Because PICTs may lack the financial resources or capacity to handle the legal risks of deep-sea mining independently, they could allow foreign bodies to mine their EEZs in exchange for financial compensation. However, there is uncertainty around how the financial payment schemes would be structured, especially regarding ‘equitable sharing’ and the economic insignificance of direct benefits. Even if PICTs agreed to such a deal, they would paradoxically return to being dependent on foreign income.
If PICTs can secure beneficial economic arrangements for deep-sea mining, they will still suffer severe environmental consequences. PICTs are also closely located to the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), the largest known cluster of deep-sea minerals. Therefore, any environmental degradation in the CCZ will be felt by PICTs first. Likewise, if deep-sea mining occurs in PICTs’ EEZs, this will cause environmental damage in the CCZ which may not be easily offset by economic gains.
Environmental degradation caused by deep-sea mining occurs during the process of digging and gauging the ocean floor, which can smother marine life with sediment plumes and lead to habitat loss. It also arises from the discharge of wastewater, fuel or toxic substances by mining ships, causing biodiversity loss through disruption of marine species’ communication. Key marine species for PICTs like whales, tuna and sharks, are particularly vulnerable as they are sensitive to noise, vibrations and light pollution caused by mining equipment, and the disruption and loss of these species is detrimental to the survival of PICTs.
The economies of PICTs and other coastal countries depend on the prosperity of marine ecosystems, fisheries, maritime transport and tourism. Additionally, aquatic food provides 50-90 per cent of the dietary protein in PICTs’ rural areas. Consequently, PICTs need to be involved in all deep-sea mining conversations with informed consent - even though this could delay decisions until further scientific research is conducted.
Above all, PICTs will need to consider that deep-sea mining could deplete the resources in their EEZs to an extent that may not be sufficiently offset by financial compensation. This could incite a resource conflict among non-regional powers racing to secure deep-sea mining rights and may amplify geopolitical rivalries between China and the West. The risk that external powers may view their involvement in the South Pacific with a short-term lens, which doesn’t consider the long-term impacts of deep-sea mining, is detrimental to PICTs’ environmental and economic survival.
South Pacific Perspectives on Deep-Sea Mining
This tension between economic opportunity and environmental protection regarding deep-sea mining has elicited polarised responses within the region. Some nations, like the Cook Islands, Kiribati, Tonga and Nauru, are nearing operational capabilities for commercial extraction. For example, the Government of Nauru notified the International Seabed Authority of their intention to start deep-sea mining. This is because the maritime boundaries of the aforementioned nations are the richest territory for mining and will yield greater economic benefits.
In contrast, the Melanesian Spearhead Group, which includes Fiji, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu, imposed a moratorium on deep-sea mining in their territorial waters in 2023, demonstrating their refusal to participate or encourage deep-sea mining activities. The South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission is also helping these countries capacity build in areas like marine minerals, policy development, and environmental monitoring to manage their seabed resources to address the growing concern of deep-sea mining.
Mining in international waters could begin as soon as 2026, even though vital research and regulatory work to ensure sustainable practices is not yet complete. The irony of the world’s green energy transition is that the industry will need the minerals found in the deep seabed to successfully decarbonise, yet the extraction will cause significant environmental degradation. To effectively navigate this issue, all distinct PICTs’ perspectives need to be genuinely heard. As deep-sea mining in one PICT’s EEZ can impact its neighbours, any country’s involvement in the deep-sea mining conversation must prioritise the protection of marine ecosystems and livelihoods of all island communities, not just the national economic benefits.
Without active and respectful participation by all, Pacific Island Countries and Territories may face the worst of both worlds: environmental damage with minimal financial gain.
Charlotte Greet is a Macquarie University student completing a Bachelor of Arts in Political Economy and a Bachelor of Laws. As the 2023 New Colombo Plan Scholarship Fellow for Vanuatu, she spent 12 months in Vanuatu focusing on international law and human rights and developed an interest in environmental policies in the South Pacific. She hopes to pursue these interests and evolve her policy research skills during her internship with FORE Australia.
Comments