WORLD specialists on issues relating to deep sea minerals will meet in Nadi on Monday to discuss issues pertaining to deep sea minerals and mining for countries in the Pacific region.
The Deep Sea Minerals Project administered by SOPAC, a division of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and funded by the European Community, will be led by Akuila Tawake.
Mr Tawake said the project would ensure that sustainable seabed mineral resources management would bring tangible benefits to regional countries.
International specialists who will attend the workshop include legal adviser to the Jamaica-based International Seabed Authority ù Michael Lodge, Doctor James Hein of the United States Geological Survey, acting chief economist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ù Dr Linwood Pendleton and head of the marine program at the United nations Environment Program ù Dr Yannick Beaudoin.
Also included are Professor Chuck Fisher, a biologist at Pennsylvania State University, Dr Sven Peterson ù a mineralogist at the Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences and Dr Samantha Smith ù Environmental and community manager for Nautilus Minerals and Daniel Dumas.