Deep-sea exploration projects have identified valuable deposits of gold, silver, copper, nickel, and cobalt across the Pacific—both in the open ocean under international jurisdiction and in the territorial waters of several Pacific Island nations. Several nations have entered into exploration contracts with international companies, and in 2011, Papua New Guinea granted Nautilus Minerals a lease to begin mining copper and gold from a seabed vent in the Bismark Sea. Environmental risks are poorly understood, however, and the fierce public outcry from citizens of Papua New Guinea and other countries in the region has put the project on hold.

This issue of the East-West Wire is based on a seminar that Dr. Clark presented at the East-West Center on 20 February 2018. A video of the seminar is available on the Center's website.