Fiji will continue to observe the moratorium on deep sea mining, says Minister for Disaster Management, and Rural and Maritime Development Sakiasi Ditoka.
The issue was brought under the spotlight by a number of Pacific countries and NGOs deeply opposed to deep sea mining.
Fiji was one of the first nations to call for a moratorium alongside Palau, Federated States of Micronesia and Samoa.
During the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Mr Ditoka said Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka had already stated that Fiji would observe the moratorium in place.
He said while the area of deep sea mining was relatively new, and while there might be potential, “you don’t know what else lies behind it”.
“If you open a door that cannot be closed, that’s the danger,” he said.
“So it’s best that you proceed with caution.”
He said while there may be scope for exploration and scientific discovery, operationalising of mining was not on the agenda.
