Research Highlights Inequitable Revenue Sharing
SYDNEY — Pacific Island nations will see minimal financial benefits from deep sea mining, while companies stand to earn billions annually, according to new research commissioned by Greenpeace International. The study highlights a vast disparity in revenue distribution that could leave the region with only thousands of dollars each year.
Implications for Pacific Nations
Shiva Gounden, Head of Pacific at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, criticised the proposed revenue sharing, stating that Pacific communities would make significant sacrifices for negligible financial returns. Gounden emphasised the cultural and environmental costs, asserting that the Pacific Ocean should not be commodified.
The study uses data from ISA’s Finance Committee proposals between 2022 and 2025, showing that after covering administrative and other costs, little revenue remains for distribution to affected nations. Dr. Mpoto Bombaka highlighted the structural limitations of the revenue-sharing mechanism, suggesting it primarily benefits the mining industry rather than global stakeholders.
With the ISA’s first session of the year approaching in March, the call for a moratorium on deep sea mining grows louder, supported by 40 countries. Gounden urges that any decisions on ocean mining should prioritise the rights and voices of Pacific communities, advocating for the protection of the ocean’s ecological and cultural heritage.
Source: newshub.medianet.com.au
Last updated: 2 April 2026, 4:35 pm
