By Pita Ligaiula in Koror, Palau
Pacific Ocean Commissioner Dr Filimon Manoni says Pacific Islands Forum countries are taking steps to find common ground on deep-sea mining despite major differences in national positions.
In an interview with Pacific journalists in Palau ahead of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting, Dr Manoni said deep-sea mining had “troubled the region” because of the diversity of views among Pacific countries.
But he said Forum leaders had begun a process aimed at keeping countries together while respecting national sovereignty and individual decisions.
“This issue has, in itself, troubled the region a little bit.
“As you pointed out, there is diversity in thinking around the issue of deep-sea mining,” Manoni said.
Dr Manoni said Pacific leaders had recognised the need to ensure differences over deep-sea mining did not undermine cooperation in other areas of regional ocean governance.
He highlighted the region’s cooperation on climate and fisheries as examples of areas where Pacific countries had worked closely together.
“We work very well in the climate space, we work very well in the fisheries space. So we wouldn’t want anything to undermine the work we’ve done in other areas,” he said.
Dr Manoni said a major step was taken in early 2025 when Pacific leaders and ministers held the region’s first Deep-Sea Mining Talanoa in Suva.
He said the meeting brought political leaders together for open and frank discussions on an issue where countries have different and, in some cases, opposing positions.
“For the first time ever, and at the highest political level, the DSM Talanoa was convened in Suva, where leaders and ministers came together to have open discussions, frank discussions, with respect and understanding of each other’s decisions on this issue,” Dr Manoni said.
Dr Manoni acknowledged that Pacific countries were still grappling with key questions surrounding deep-sea mining.
The International Seabed Authority (ISA) process is continuing to address some of those issues at the global level.
But he said the Pacific’s immediate priority was not necessarily to force all countries into a single position.
Instead, he said, the focus was on understanding national decisions and identifying areas where regional cooperation remained possible.
“What the Pacific has done is come together to understand each other’s decisions and perhaps to look at some of the pathways in terms of bringing the membership together,” he said.
Among the issues being considered is the need for better access to information and scientific data on deep-sea mining.
Dr Manoni said Forum leaders had identified data as an important regional issue, including the possible development of a Pacific regional repository for deep-sea mining information.
The Pacific Ocean Comissioner said the Talanoa process could continue as developments take place internationally and as Pacific countries refine their national positions.
“There is a process that has started in 2025,” he said.
“Leaders are taking steps through their annual communiqués to look at how the region can move together in respecting national sovereignty and national decisions, but making sure that at least the conversation keeps on going.”
He said continued dialogue was important to ensuring that differences over deep-sea mining did not weaken Pacific regionalism.
“We remain together
“I think the centrality of the collective of the leaders is important,” Manoni said.
The comments come as deep-sea mining remains one of the most divisive ocean issues facing the Pacific, with Forum countries taking different approaches to whether the industry should proceed and under what conditions.
For Dr Manoni, however, the realistic prospect of a regional approach lies in continued dialogue, greater access to information and respect for national decisions rather than forcing Pacific countries into an immediate single position.
