Media Release
Wednesday 20 June 2012
Nautilus seabed mining experiment falters
Dispute with PNG government, opposition by Pacific and Canadian citizens, financing woes
TORONTO. Today Canadians are standing in solidarity with civil society in the Pacific against deep sea mining. Canadian
company, Nautilus Inc, is leading the rush to mine the sea floor in the Pacific. If it goes ahead, its Solwara 1 project
in the Bismark Sea of Papua New Guinea will be the world’s first commercial deep sea mine.
However, a growing call from Pacific communities to stop seabed mining, the PNG Government’s refusal to contribute to
development costs and the breakdown of a financing agreement with an European ship builder questions the viability of an
already uncertain venture. Not a good look as Nautilus faces its AGM in Toronto today. Nautilus stocks have already
dropped dramatically over the past couple of weeks.
Dr. Catherine Coumans, Mining Watch Canada said, “Canadian mining companies operate around the world and dominate the
sector in number. But Canada does not regulate their activities to prevent them profiting from weak protection for the
environment, workers, and human rights in some host countries.”
“Now, in spite of very serious concerns that have been raised by scientists and local citizens, we have Nautilus
proposing to mine environmentally, socially and culturally significant seabeds in the Pacific, an activity that would
not be allowed in Canadian waters.”
Wences Magun, national coordinator for Mas Kagin Tapani in Papua New Guinea said, “At this point local communities have
NOT sanctioned this project. We can't rely on our governments or companies like Nautilus to tell us that seabed mining
is good, is safe.”
“No one knows what the impacts of this form of mining will be. We are being used us as guinea pigs in a sea bed mining
experiment.”
Sharon Diave-Nerius from the East New Britain Social Action Committee said, “The recent blows to Nautilus are welcome
news for communities in Papua New Guinea. But there are plenty of other companies and governments pushing for this
experimental industry in the Pacific to get started.”
“The speed with which the PNG Government approved the EIS and granted the licence to Nautilus did not pay respect to the
customary norms and cultural heritage of the indigenous people of the Bismarck Archipelago.
“Experimental mining of our seabeds is not going to provide any direct services or benefits for local communities.”
Dr. Helen Rosenbaum, campaign coordinator for the Deep Sea Mining campaign in Australia and author of Out of Our Depth: Mining the Ocean Floor in Papua New Guinea said, “The Nautilus EIS is deeply flawed. Even the company admits to moderate environmental risk. Independent analysis
of the EIS indicates far higher risks.”
“Investors should be aware that contiguous nature of the ocean means that impacts will not be isolated to the 11 ha area
of the Solwara 1 site. They will spread far and wide with liabilities to match. For example, stocks of tuna and other
migratory species are likely to be contaminated by heavy metals and health of communities and ecosystems across the
Pacific could be affected.”
Groups across the Pacific have a petition calling for Pacific governments to stop experimental seabed mining. Pacific women are currently promoting the 'stop
experimental seabed mining' message at the international Rio+20 conference in Brazil. In New Zealand community have come together to campaign against seabed mining of their black sands. Meanwhile local groups and fishing industries opposing marine phosphate mining off the coast of Namibia have started to make links with people in the Pacific region.
Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deepseaminingpacific
Join us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoDeepSeaMining
Join us on Youtube: http://youtube.com/StopDeepSeaMining
Sign the petition: http://bit.ly/stopdsmpetition
ENDS