The head of a team focussing on deep sea minerals in the Pacific, is encouraging Pacific countries to form new policies to manage seabed minerals within their exclusive economic zones.
A three-day workshop on the Deep Sea Minerals Project, administered by the Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission, is now under way in Fiji.
The project's Team leader, Akuila Tawake says the aim is to brief countries about the potential of their seabed minerals and assist in the development of legislation to govern those resources.
"And in addition to that, we will be assisting our member countries with the capacity requirement that's required for these countries to be able to manage and govern their seabed minerals sustainably."
Akuila Tawake says most Pacific Island countries are not aware of the full potential of their seabed minerals.
