STAKEHOLDERS from Pacific Island countries and territories have been undergoing major training on the emerging deep sea minerals industry.
The Pacific-African, Caribbean and Pacific States regional training working on geological, technological, biological and environmental aspects of deep sea minerals ended in Nadi yesterday.
Secretariat of the Pacific Community's deep sea minerals project team leader Akuila Tawake said the need to develop and implement a training program became apparent after wide consultations with stakeholders in the 15 countries participating in the project.
The project is funded by the European Union and part of the initiative includes a series of training workshops on technical, policy and fiscal matters relating to deep sea minerals.
Internationally renowned deep sea mineral scientists Dr Jim Hein and Professor Chuck Fisher assisted in conducting the workshop. Mr Tawake said the aim of the workshop was to develop and enhance the participants' knowledge of specific geological, technological, biological and environmental issues of deep sea minerals.
He said the workshop targeted representatives from government departments such as mineral resources and, environment and fisheries. Representatives of civil society groups also participated.