The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition is urging the New Zealand government to make a stand against seabed mining while the International Seabed Authority meets in Jamaica.
The international body is charged with drawing up regulations for the emerging industry which has been mired in controversy.
There's great interest among advocates of the fledgling sector in the polymetallic nodules found on the deepest seabed of the Pacific.
The Deep Sea Mining Campaign warns that if nodule mining is allowed to take place in the Pacific Ocean, species such as the Sperm Whale could be adversely affected. Photo: WILLYAM
Proponents of seabed mining claim it will have minimal environmental impact but ocean scientists and experts say there is not enough known about deep sea ecosystems to be sure of this.
Further pressure has been added to this week's discussions because of a two year loophole triggered by Nauru earlier this year which would allow mining to commence within its Exclusive Economic Zone within two years.
Kiwis Against Seabed Mining spokesperson Phil McCabe it is was clear that the EPA had embarked on an exercise of completing and, in effect, proving the applicant's case. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
The Pacific liaison for the coalition Phil McCabe said it's disappointing to see New Zealand helping enable deep sea mining in international waters.
"New Zealand needs to embed the realities of what would occur, if this activity was enabled, into their positioning.
And we think that people of Aotearoa New Zealand would be proud to stand behind New Zealand taking a position that really reserves these areas from the damage this activity would cause," McCabe said.