Tonga PM welcomes US deal to explore deep-sea minerals amid environmental concerns | Pacific leaders: in their words

Tonga’s recently elected leader has described a partnership agreement with the United States in seabed mining exploration as an “exciting development” amid the small Pacific nation’s concerns over the practice of seabed mining and its potential impact on the environment.

Tonga is located in the South Pacific Ocean, a region of growing interest in the possibility of extracting critical minerals buried in the seabed to aid energy industries and green technologies.

In some of his first comments on deep sea mining exploration, Lord Fatafehi ​​​​Fakafānua told the Guardian that Tonga had a tradition and historical knowledge of the cultural practice and that the nation would be “cautious” in exploring the oceans.

The United States and Tonga reached an agreement in February to cooperate to “advance marine scientific research for responsible exploration of seafloor mineral resources.” The statement, issued on February 26, said the two countries were “uniquely positioned” to work together in this area.

“Together, we are committed to responsible exploration of seafloor minerals and to improving the world’s scientific understanding of the ocean depths,” the statement said.

Fakafānua, who was elected prime minister in November 2025, said the partnership was “an exciting development for us”.

He added: “Regarding deep sea minerals, as an emerging industry, Tonga remains fully committed to the scientific exploration of our oceans within the multilateral systems to which we are legally bound and continues to strictly maintain a cautious approach of first and foremost do no harm. »

Tonga has a long-standing partnership with The Metals Company for exploration work, although no mining has taken place.

Environmental groups worry that deep-sea exploration and mining could damage fragile ocean ecosystems. Concerns have also been raised in Tonga that the public has not been sufficiently consulted on the US deal.

Dr ‘Ungatea Fonua Kata, a respected public figure and academic, is among the most vocal critics of deep sea mining in Tonga. Kata described the Pacific Ocean as the country’s “home” and said communities depend on the sea for much of their livelihoods.

“The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean on the planet and yet it is our home, we oppose any activity that could harm this environment,” said Kata, who is also the education director of Tonga’s largest religious denomination, the Free Wesleyan Church.

“We have very little territory,” she said. “Our livelihood is based on the ocean, so we don’t want anything done that could harm where we live. »

Kata said plans to cooperate with the United States in marine research lacked public consultation, particularly on an issue so vital to Tonga.

Drew Havea, chair of the Tonga Civil Society Forum, is a strong opponent of deep sea mining and has called for a moratorium on the practice.

“Most Tongans did not agree with their country’s involvement in deep-sea mining,” Havea said. He called for a referendum on the issue during elections in November last year, but the government of the day did not grant the request.

The Tonga Civil Society Forum has found strong support regionally from the Pacific Network on Globalization, a leading environmental and advocacy group. Its regional coordinator, Joey Tau, urged caution and warned that deep sea mining was a big unknown.

He said: “There is a need for more science and research in the deep sea, but that is carried out independently, that benefits the common good of all humanity, and not driven by industry.

“Mining has a really bad history in this part of the world. You can [also] look at other continents – it’s displaced people, it’s created social differences,” he said.