'United we stand, divided we fall:' Pacific island nations urged to create collective seabed regulations
- Admin
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
By Jayvee Vallejera
Recognizing that the march toward the use of seabed resources is nearly unstoppable at this point, a new paper urges Pacific island nations to create a “underwater constitution” to regulate resource extraction, safeguard their sovereignty and ensure that these countries share in the ocean’s riches.
The policy paper, titled “United We Stand, Divided We Fall,” argues for a practical approach in the face of a rush for the Pacific seabed—a Pacific Seabed Stewardship Statement — to help countries agree on shared principles and guide future cooperation on sustainable seabed development.
Its author, Dr. Philippa Louey, a research fellow at the Pacific Security College, said deep-sea activities in the Pacific have accelerated to the point where clear governance frameworks are urgently needed.
“Activity in the deep sea is increasing significantly, from new submarine cables to growing interest in deep-sea minerals and organisms that could unlock breakthroughs in medicine, technology, and agriculture,” she said in a news release. “We’re seeing new and re-energized players coming into the Pacific, all looking for access to seabed resources.”
Louey makes the case for initially focusing on common values rather than on a single position “for” or “against” seabed mining.
She cited the region's success in developing, in 2000, a multilateral plan to manage its tuna stocks sustainably.
Many Pacific countries also face economic challenges and recognize the potential for seabed activities to contribute to their economic development, so the idea of leasing their underwater lands for profit is becoming increasingly attractive, Louey said.
A shared playbook on how to do this safely and sustainably would protect Pacific nations from being played,” she added.
Each Pacific country may already have its own rules for seabed management, but these are not enough, Louey said. “We need to think beyond borders and work together on a regional approach.”
She proposes a non-binding Statement of Pacific Seabed Stewardship that articulates commitments and establishes a point of accountability for the region. Later, as Pacific countries hammer out their own seabed projects, they can look into incorporating these principles into a binding regional treaty, she added.
“A non-legally binding approach is a non-confrontational yet strong statement of principles to steer us,” she said.
One of the regional experts Louey interviewed for her paper, Professor Transform Aqorau at the Solomon Islands National University, said a stewardship statement can act as an early guardrail, signaling to all actors—contractors, states, and multilateral bodies—that Pacific values remain at the center of decision-making.
Currently, the Cook Islands, Nauru anad Tonga have legal frameworks regulating minerals exploration.
Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Samoa, Tuvalu and Vanuatu have not established frameworks for exploitation but have joined calls for a moratorium, precautionary pause, or ban on seabed mining in national and/or international waters, indicating a clear policy position that forms a de facto framework for their current stance.
Louey rests the need for a collective approach to deep-sea governance on three key points:
First, the interconnected nature of the Pacific Ocean means seabed activities and their impacts may extend beyond national borders. Cooperation will be required across several agencies and nations.
Second, historical evidence indicates that those seeking to exploit Pacific resources have employed “divide and conquer” tactics to foster economic and political competition within the region. This could happen with seabed resources, she warns.
Louey said a cooperative approach emphasizes dialogue, inclusive negotiation and careful decision-making, especially for a relatively untried enterprise as seabed development.
She pointed out that the region’s leadership in sustainable ocean governance could end up being minimized and eroded if division on seabed issues continues to fester.
Third, she said, there is real and concerning danger that Pacific communities will be “played” by seabed investors who just want to maximize deep-sea access and profits.
Pacific countries are familiar with outside entities exploiting the region’s resources for their own benefit. Whether in fisheries, logging, or mining, the region has repeatedly seen how uncoordinated national pathways can be manipulated by external actors, Louey said.
“Pacific nations need clear seabed governance frameworks to assert authority and manage these resources responsibly. Without them, we risk harmful agreements and irresponsible activity, she said.
Louey said a Pacific Seabed Stewardship Statement could prepare the ground for the implementation of regional seabed cooperation.
“This statement would give the region a shared foundation for understanding and accountability on seabed governance—something all Pacific stakeholders and partners can refer to,” she said.
The policy paper identifies eight stewardship principles that could be a springboard for the Pacific Seabed Stewardship Statement: heritage and connection; justice; ecosystem health; development; geopolitical management; knowledge; coordination and cooperation; and governance.
“Pacific nations don’t agree on everything when it comes to seabed management, but there are clear areas where priorities align. Those shared principles give the region a strong foundation to build on,” Louey said.
Aqorau at the Solomon Islands National University emphasized the value of shared principles as the foundation for regional seabed cooperation.
“What is most valuable in this work is the emphasis on shared principles rather than positions. At a time when perspectives on deep-sea mining remain diverse, a principled foundation provides a pragmatic and politically workable path forward,” he said.
Dr. Manumatavai Tupou-Roosen at the University of the South Pacific, who also cited the Pacific’s experience with managing its tuna stocks, said a collective approach has shown that “when we stand together, we are not just stronger; everyone wins.” That know-how could help the Pacific navigate its stewardship of its seabed resources, she added.
Rhea Moss-Christian, executive director of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission said, Louey “rightfully acknowledges the value in focusing, at least initially, on common values rather than on a single position ‘for’ or ‘against’ seabed mining.”
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