Minerals Report - International Seabed Authority

CHAPTER 22
THE ROLE OF SOPAC IN PROMOTING EXPLORATION FOR MARINE
MINERAL RESOURCES IN THE PACIFIC REGION
1. Introduction
C Pratt, A. Simpson, K Kojima and R Koshy
South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission, Suva, Fiji
The South Pacific region comprising 22 Pacific Island countries [PICs]
and territories collectively cover over 20 million square kilometres of the
Pacific Ocean and is considered to be one of the most prospective regions in
the world for offshore mineral resources. With ocean to land ratios in the
Pacific being as much as 25, 000 to 1, the potential economic benefits to the
region through development of these marine mineral resources could be
enormous.
The region’s potential prosperity has largely been determined through
numerous marine scientific research [MSR] campaigns, which have identified
key resource areas of polymetallic massive sulphides [PMS], manganese
nodules and cobalt-rich manganese crust, within the 200 nautical mile
exclusive economic zones [EEZs] of some PICs. In addition to these, other
collaborative research programmes have established the potential for
hydrocarbons, placer minerals, gas hydrates and precious corals in the region.
For many PICs, their living and non-living marine resources represent
the only natural resources of any tangible economic significance or
development potential. Consequently, the sustainable development and
management of the region’s marine environment and marine resources are of
paramount importance to their long-term future.
In 1972, the Committee for Co-ordination of Joint Prospecting for
Mineral Resources in South Pacific Offshore Areas [CCOP/SOPAC] was
founded under the auspices of the United Nations Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific [ESCAP]. At the time, the primary focus
INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY 881