PACIFIC SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES REGIONAL TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING WORKSHOP

1. PSIDS Regional Training and capacity building workshop
on deep-seabed mining
Nuku’alofa, Kingdom of Tonga
February 2019
Process in place for sharing of MSR
From contractor to Cook Islands
____________________________
Rima Browne
GIS Officer
Seabed Minerals Authority, Cook Islands

2. 2
Collection of MSR
• MSR can be carried out as an incident to SBM
Activities or as part of other dedicated MSR or
incidental activities.
• Participants in SBM Activities will be required to provide
our Government with MSR and scientific data gathered,
subject to confidentiality requirements if necessary.
• Among other things, such data will assist our
Government to administer the scheme for protection of
the environment.
• Title holders are also prohibited from interfering with
MSR conducted by other persons.

3. 3
Transfer and storage of MSR
• Process > sponsored party to sponsoring state??
• Sponsoring state > Regulator
• Given to Technical Division
• Sorted, loaded, and stored into the GIS database
• GIS officer received capacity building from Kenex in Wellington

4. 4
Benefits of MSR
• Better information about the distribution, quantity
and composition of SBM Resources.
• Greater understanding of the deep sea
environment that will facilitate the management of
environmental issues arising from SBM Activities.
• Identification of other marine resources of
environmental, cultural or economic value.
• Data collected essential for marine spatial planning