Sea bed mining equivalent of COVID-19 to the health of our Ocean - PIANGO

The Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organisation (PIANGO) Executive Director Emeline Ilolahia says sea bed mining is the equivalent of COVID-19 to the health of our Ocean.

Ilolahia says the world’s oceans are now facing a multidimensional crisis, of which human-made climate change, over-fishing, plastic pollution and ocean acidification are all factors.

She says there is an urgent need to step up our efforts to protect the marine environment.

Ilolahia adds with the World Ocean Day ahead of us, a ten-year moratorium on seabed mining simply means to prioritize the health of our communities and recognize values beyond economic gain.

Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organisation says they remain optimistic that the call for a moratorium, in order to support the research that will be taking place as part of the Decade of Ocean Science, will allow Pacific Leaders to be well-informed on how to progress with the Deep Sea Mining industry - if they choose to do so.

Ilolahia says they continue to push for leaders for a precautionary approach ensuring that resourcing for scientific research will come from a more independent source as opposed to mining companies who have vested interests in progressing their industry.

Seabed Mining is an experimental industrial field which involves extracting submerged minerals and deposits from the sea floor.

Seabed mining may destroy deep sea habitats, eradicate rare and unique species, and introduce sediment clouds, noise, toxic chemicals, vibration and other forms of pollution into pristine environments.