FINDING a balance between deep sea mining and exploitation and protecting the ocean environment was high on the agenda at a deep sea minerals training workshop held in Nadi recently.
A statement released by the Secretariat for the Pacific Communities (SPC) said the workshop, funded by the European Union's (EU) Deep Sea Minerals Project (DSM) was designed to address issues associated with deep-sea minerals and mining.
Director of the SOPAC Division at SPC Doctor Russell Howorth said the workshop played a critical role in providing participants with a better understanding of deep-sea environments, the nature of seabed mineral deposits and biological communities associated with them.
"The protection of the ocean environment and the preservation of rare and fragile ecosystems and ocean habitats must be balanced against the emerging new economic opportunity presented for Pacific Island countries by exploring for deep sea minerals and their possible future exploitation," said Dr Howorth.