Secretariat of the Pacific Community - European Union Deep Sea Minerals Project (SPC-EU DSM Project)
Secretariat of the Pacific Community
#SDGAction39957
Description
The SPC-EU DSM Project is the first major initiative designed to regulate this new industry in a coordinated way within the Pacific Region. The SPC-EU DSM Project's activities are driven by a steering committee made up of representatives from the participating countries.
The Pacific Deep Sea Minerals Project has already undertaken a number of activities designed to inform stakeholders about the technical, legal, economic and environmental impacts of deep sea mining. Consultation with the participating countries also determined the need for a series of practical workshops to help build governance capacity and engage key stakeholders in the decision-making process.In response, the Pacific ACP Deep Sea Minerals Project developed a regional technical training programme with a series of 1-week regional training workshops covering the following key areas:-Geological, Technological, Biological and Environmental Aspects of Deep Sea Minerals (August 2012 in Fiji)-Law and Contract Negotiations for Deep Sea Minerals (March 2013 in Tonga)-Social Impact and Public Participation (June 2013 in Vanuatu)-Environment Perspectives of Deep Sea Minerals Activities (December 2013 in Fiji)-Fiscal regimes and the responsible investment of revenues from Deep Sea Minerals (May 2014 in Cook Islands)In addition to the regional training events, the SPC-EU DSM Project offers individual capacity building opportunities through an internship program and sponsorship of ad-hoc training and work opportunities. To date 26 internships/attachments have been completed. The technical training workshops and individual capacity building opportunities will continue for the duration of the SPC-EU DSM Project
The SPC-EU DSM Project is funded by the European Union and managed by SOPAC, the Applied Geoscience & Technology Division of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, on behalf of the 15 Pacific Island participating countries.
Participating Countries: Cook Islands, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.
Collaborating Institutions: United States Geological Survey (USGS), National Institute of Water and Atmospheric research (NIWA) - NZ, Korean Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST) , Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Duke University, Penn State University, University of Hawai’i, University of the South Pacific (USP), Australian National University (ANU),
International Monetary Fund (IMF), Commonwealth Secretariat, International Seabed Authority (ISA), Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP), Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)/GRID-Arendal, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Helmholtz Centre for Ocean research Kiel (GEOMAR), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Pacific Financial Technical Assistance centre (PFTAC), Managing Impacts of Deep-seA reSource exploitation Project (MIDAS), Deep Ocean stewardship Initiative (DOSI), Parties to the Naru Agreement (PNA) Office, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS)
Commercial Entities: Neptune Minerals (Australia), Nautilus Minerals (Australia), Deep Green (Australia), Odyssey Marine Exploration (USA), IHC Mining (Australia), OceanflORE (Singapore), Pax Populus Pty Ltd (Australia), BMT WBM Pty Ltd (Australia) , ERIAS Group (Australia)
Civil Society Groups: Pacific Islands Association of NGO’s (PIANGO), Deep Sea Mining Campaign (Australia), Te Ipukarea Society (TIS) (Cook Islands), Minerals Policy Institute (MPI) (Australia), Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN) (Fiji), Women's Action for Change (WAC) (Fiji), Civil Society Forum Tonga, Mas Kagin Tapani Association (PNG), The Nature Conservancy (Solomon Islands), Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC), Community Mine Continuation Agreement (CMCA) (PNG), Women United Together Marshall Islands (WUTMI), Nauru Island Association of NGOs (NIANGO), Samoa Umbrella of NGOs (SUNGO), Tuvalu Association of NGOs (TANGO), Vanuatu Association of NGOs (VANGO), Vanuatu Council of Churches, Holy Church of All Nations (Vanuatu), Pacific Institute of Public Policy (Vanuatu), Environmental Law Association (Fiji), Centre for Environmental Law & Community Rights (PNG), Greenpeace (Fiji), Oasis Earth (USA),
SDGS & Targets
Goal 14
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
14.1
By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
14.1.1
(a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density
14.2
By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
14.2.1
Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas
14.3
Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels
14.3.1
14.4
By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics
14.4.1
14.5
By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information
14.5.1
14.6
By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation
14.6.1
Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing
14.7
By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism
14.7.1
Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries
14.a
Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries
14.a.1
14.b
Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets
14.b.1
Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries
14.c
Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"
14.c.1
Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources
SDG 14 targets covered
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Region
- Asia and Pacific
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Contact Information
Alison Swaddling, Environment Advisor