The kingdoms on the French Pacific island of Futuna have ruled out allowing any work related to seabed mining in their waters, saying their stance is final.
Photo: AFP
The rejection of any further exploration of the seabed was expressed at a meeting in Futuna with French delegates sent to explain the potential of mining rare earths.
The king of Sigave as well as a leader of the kingdom of Alo told local television that any discussion about land matters had to held with the customary leadership and not with the assembly of Wallis and Futuna.
They said they had seen the negative impact of activities in French Polynesia and didn't want a repeat of them in Wallis and Futuna.
At the beginning of this decade French teams carried out three exploratory missions in the territory's waters without consulting the local kings who are officially recognised by the French republic and on its payroll.
The traditional leaders' view of what comprises their domain clashes with the law which grants France the control of its exclusive economic zone.
Five years ago, the French Economic, Social and Environmental Council urged the government to secure resources in the seabed off France's overseas territories.
Sampling copper under the sea Photo: Nautilus Minerals