Samoa's Minister for Natural Resources and Environment is among 20 founding members of the Pacific Parliamentarians’ Alliance on Deep Sea Mining.

Toesulusulu Cedric Schuster and his Pacific parliament colleagues agreed to form the Pacific Parliamentarians’ Alliance on Deep Sea Mining (PPADSM) which will advocate for the protection of the Pacific Ocean from exploitation.

The regional group was launched in Palau on Wednesday with their unveiling coinciding with the opening of the two-day 7th Our Ocean Conference in the Palau city of Koror.

It is not known how Toesulusulu's membership of the new regional grouping will tie in with his Cabinet responsibilities as Samoa's Minister for Natural Resources and Environment, especially from a regulatory perspective in relation to deep sea mining.

It is also not known if the new Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (F.A.S.T.) Government, of which Toesulusulu is a Cabinet Minister, has a policy on deep sea mining. 

In April last year a senior official with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Principle Scientific Officer, Lameko Talia told Samoa Observer that the country will take a precautionary approach to calls by international environmental groups for a ban on seabed mining.

“I don’t necessarily agree with the ban, I understand that in countries like Tonga and Cook Islands they are ahead of the race when it comes to seabed mining,” he said at that time. 

“I know of the environmental effect from mining in big countries like Papua New Guinea and other countries around the globe, but I think that Samoa is going to take a precautionary approach to this.

“Perhaps, when there is more funding to conduct further research of the flora and fauna in the exclusive economic zone of Samoa, after proper data collection, research and further study on our seabed floor we shall take measures or proceed. 

“As for now, Samoa still needs certain elements to be looked at before agreeing to the ban.”

Responding to questions from the Samoa Observer, in relation to his attendance at the Palau conference, Toesulusulu said he will release a media statement upon his return from the two-day conference. 

According to a press release distributed Thursday by the PPADSM, the Alliance is a collective of Pacific leaders who will lead the fight to protect the Pacific Ocean.

"The Alliance is a collective of Pacific leaders who share a strong concern for the health of our ocean, and who have rallied against the reckless rush by large corporations, backed by powerful governments, to mine the ocean floor for minerals.

"The Alliance holds firmly that, given the experimental nature of this industry and growing scientific consensus around the probable irreversible damage to the ocean and ocean systems, all deep sea mining activities must cease immediately to allow scientific research to establish whether or not it should be pursued."

Ralph Regenvanu, PPADSM Chair and Vanuatu’s Leader of Opposition, said deep sea mining is a big threat that the ocean currently faces.

“Our Ocean defines us. It has sustained us for thousands of years. But today our ocean is facing significant threats due to man-made stressors. Deep sea mining is one of these big threats," Mr Regenvanu said in a statement. "The science is telling us that the damage from digging and drilling our ocean floors will have devastating and irreversible impacts. 

"It will affect marine life and human lives. We have the opportunity to take action and safeguard our life force. 

"The Pacific Parliamentarians’ Alliance on Deep Sea Mining is established for exactly that reason – to act as a moral compass and advocate for what is right. 

"It is our moral responsibility and obligation to protect what sustains us."

The inaugural members of the Pacific Parliamentarians’ Alliance are: 

1. Ralph Regenvanu, Opposition Leader, Vanuatu (PPADSM Chair)

2. Debbie Ngarewa-Parker, Co-leader Maori Party Leader, MP Aotearoa New Zealand

3. Gary Juffa, Oro Governor, MP, Papua New Guinea

4. Enele Sopoaga, Opposition Leader, Tuvalu

5. Lenora Qereqeretabua, MP, Fiji

6. Mathew Wale, Opposition Leader, Solomon Islands

7. Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster, Minister of Environment, Samoa

8. Theonila Roka-Matbob, Minister for Education, Autonomous Region of Bougainville

9. Moetai Brotherson, Member of the National Assembly of France, Maohi Nui (French Occupied Polynesia)

10. Allan Bird, East Sepik Governor, MP, Papua New Guinea

11. Teanau Tuiono, Greens Party, MP Aotearoa New Zealand

12. Rukebai Inabo, Senator, Palau

13. Sabina Flores Perez, Senator, Guam

14. Ambassador Kaliopate Tavola, Former Minister, Pacific Elders Voices, Fiji

15. Tarita Holm, Ngardmau State Legislator Palau,

16. Derick R Manu’ari, MP, Solomon Islands

17. Peter Kenilorea Junior, MP, Solomon Islands

18. John Salong, MP, Vanuatu

19. Powes Parkop, Governor NCD, MP, Papua New Guinea

20. Sebastian Marino, House of Delegates, Palau