The committee set up by the Cook Islands Government to consider interest in exploiting the country's manganese resource says there is international interest in the seabed nodules.
The committee chairman, Terepai Maoate Jnr, says the interested parties are being asked to provide ed to furnish personal and company background information.
He says this sort of information is needed before any discussions will be held.
Among the interest parties is an international ocean mining company which wants to get a licence to explore the seafloor within the Cook Islands EEZ.
