Pacnews
Tonga needs to consider the environmental impact of searching for minerals on the sea bed, according to deep sea mining expert, Akuila Tawake, who works for the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC).
He’s in Nuku’alofa this week talking to mining professionals. He’s urged the Tongan Government to explore the possible harm and benefits of deep sea mining.
The full impact of mining needs to be outlined in any regulation or policy that’s formed, and doing so may help to prevent problems in the future, he said.
“In terms of environment management there are lots of unknowns out there in the deep sea and if you compare deep sea mining to inland mining, it has been going for 100 of years and many of the environment are unknown I suppose to deep sea mining there are lots of unknown that’s why we are promoting the precautionary approach as the way to go.”
He urged caution during a meeting about deep sea mining held at the Doctor Moulton Hall in Nuku’alofa.
“There’s a lot of concern about deep sea mining but there’s also a lot of benefits. I suppose to the adverse impacts in the media, but Tonga have a work-plan to deliver to everyone including economic development and the economic development of its people and if this is an alternative economic development for Tonga, then we are going to manage the environment in a sustainable way,” Tawake said.
The European Union is funding similar discussions in 15 other Pacific countries.
