Call for more study into seabed mining

 NORTHERN Governor Gary Juffa has challenged the Government to conduct studies on the effects of seabed mining on marine resources.

He related this to the Solwara 1 project in New Ireland, which he questioned Fisheries Minister Mao Zeming in Parliament yesterday.

Juffa asked Zeming if the ministry or the National Fisheries Authority would conduct an independent study on the effects of seabed mining on the marine resources.

He asked what the Ministry’s stand would be if scientists found the project to cause harm to the marine environment.

Zeming agreed that the fishing industry would be a concern, however, the developer had already been granted a license to carryout the project by the previous government. 

He said he would get information from the fisheries authority and make a statement to the House later.