Around the Pacific the feverish interest in deep sea mining has given rise to an equally intense opposition to this unprecedented extractive industry.
Dr. Helen Rosenbaum, coordinator, Deep Sea Mining campaign said “With over 1.5 million square kilometres of Pacific Ocean floor under exploration leasehold around the Pacific, communities fear their governments will rush into granting licences before there has been open debate and before scientific studies have been able to assess the risks to livelihoods, health and ecosystems.”
The world’s first license to operate a deep sea mine has been granted in PNG by the former Somare Government to Canadian company Nautilus Inc for its Solwara 1 mine.
London-listed Anglo American is a major shareholder in Nautilus.
See http://www.deepseaminingoutofourdepth.org/media-release-vanuatu-world-leader-on-best-practice-deep-sea-mining-decision-making/?utm_source=Stop+Experimental+Deep+Sea+Mining&utm_campaign=3d57a1deae-Vanuatu_world_leader_DSM_decision_making11_7_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c4419d759e-3d57a1deae-4720853.
See also: New YouTube animation highlights experimental seabed mining risks for the Pacific region.