Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.
U.S. Launches First Offshore Mineral Lease Review in 30 Years Near American Samoa
gCaptain
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June 12, 2025
The Department of the Interior has initiated its first offshore mineral lease evaluation in over 30 years, focusing on waters near American Samoa with the the publication of a Request for Information and Interest. The move follows President...
US takes first step for potential mineral lease sale near American Samoa
KFGO - North Dakota
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June 12, 2025
By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Interior Department said on Thursday it was publishing a request for information and interest to explore the potential for seabed mineral leasing offshore American Samoa. The step will launch a...
Amata send questions to Interior Secretary regarding deepsea mining plan
Talanei
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June 10, 2025
Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is submitting questions to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), regarding the proposal for seabed mining in waters around American Samoa. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management...
Wealth beneath the waves: US takes a step toward promoting deep-sea mining amid concerns in the Pacific
The Pacific Island Times
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June 11, 2025
Around 16,404 feet beneath the northern Pacific Ocean, the whole seabed—stretching around 4,500 miles from east to west—is littered with potato-sized chunks of what look like charcoal lumps called polymetallic nodules. Rich in metals such as...
Concern in Samoa about deep sea mining around Am Samoa
Talanei
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June 9, 2025
Samoa Conservation Society President James Atherton has called for great care after the United States government announced plans to consider a lease for deep sea mining off shore of American Samoa. Samoa Observer newspaper reports Atherton said...
WPRFC approves mandatory electronic monitoring of longline vessels
SeafoodSource
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The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Council (WPRFC) has authorized mandatory electronic monitoring of all commercial longline vessels operating in the Hawai‘i and American Samoa fisheries. With the number of human observers dwindling due to...
Pacific fishery council asks Trump to free up Hawaii’s newest marine sanctuary
The Pacific Island Times
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June 13, 2025
By Pacific Island Times News Staff The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council will ask President Donald Trump to lift fishing restrictions within Hawaii’s newest marine sanctuary, in line with his administration’s policy to recharge...
'Act responsibly for humankind' — Palau president on deep sea mining
Samoa News
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June 10, 2025
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Palau's president says the US to fast-track deep sea mining is not a good idea. Deep sea mining frontrunner The Metals Company (TMC) has since confirmed it will not apply for a mining license through the International...
Marine energy: Harnessing the power of the Atlantic
Atlantic Council
·
June 10, 2025
Issue Brief June 10, 2025 • 9:02 am ET Print this page Marine energy: Harnessing the power of the Atlantic By William Yancey Brown Following a decade-long partnership, the Policy Center for the New South and the Atlantic Council have joined forces...
Pacific Mini Games to Unite Region through sports and sister state partnerships
Island Times
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June 13, 2025
KOROR, Palau – Palau is preparing to host its largest-ever regional event, the 22nd Pacific Mini Games, with more than 2,000 athletes confirmed to participate—making it the most attended Mini Games in over a decade. Two thousand eighty-five...
Concerns raised regarding deep-seabed mining in Am Samoa waters
Samoa News
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June 9, 2025
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Opposition from members of the public has continued to pour in regarding deep-seabed mining on or around American Samoa’s offshore waters since the Department of the Interior moved to consider issuing or selling a...
Uifa’atali Amata: Fishery decision Is separate from seabed mining issue
Samoa News
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June 9, 2025
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is correcting a misunderstanding that reopening some waters to fishing somehow may have caused the seabed mining issue, in a press release, dated Saturday, June 7, 2025. “In fact, the two...
ASVB unveils new crown and sash for Miss American Samoa 2026
Samoa News
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June 5, 2025
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The unveiling of the newly designed Miss American Samoa crown and sash, both sponsored by American Samoa Visitors Bureau, took place during a visit hosted by ASVB, for the 2025 pageant contestants and reigning Miss...
Agueda Johnston Middle School unveils first fully renovated restrooms despite funding challenges
Pacific Daily News
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Agueda I. Johnston Middle School opened its first fully renovated student restroom on Thursday, marking progress in Guam's broader effort to modernize deteriorating public school facilities amid a $108.8 million federal funding freeze that has...
Another Surprise in the One Big Beautiful Bill: Excise Tax on Remittances
JD Supra - California
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June 12, 2025
As Republicans in the U.S. Senate now consider the reconciliation bill, they will need to consider what tax provisions contained in the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on May 22, 2025, to retain or...
New report alleges Impossible Metals’ claims are scientifically baseless
Samoa News
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June 12, 2025
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA [Monday, 9 June 2025, 8:23 pm] — A new report launched today reveals that the deep sea mining plans of California-based company Impossible Metals pose serious environmental risks, despite the company’s claims of...
Local fishing fleet appeals to StarKist for a partnership of co-operation
Samoa News
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June 12, 2025
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Tautai-O-Samoa Longline & Fishing Association president, Krista Haleck, has penned her disappointment with StarKist Samoa following a recent meeting with the company’s procurement team. The June 3, 2025, letter was...
Ocean is not a resource to exploit…it’s part of our identity as Samoans
Talanei
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June 11, 2025
At the meeting of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council in Honolulu on Monday, a statement opposing deepsea mining in American Samoan waters was presented by Utumapu Dr. Andrew Pati Ah Young. Utumapu has a PhD in Biological...
Cook Islands under scrutiny as deep-sea mining debate shifts from green transition to militarisation
Te Ao Maori News
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This week, the Cook Islands came under scrutiny for excluding environmentalist groups from deep-sea mining consultations in Queensland, Australia. Climate change is one of the greatest threats to Pacific nations, but an escalating military buildup...
Growing opposition to seabed mining
Talanei
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June 4, 2025
A former Director of Education and former Director of Marine and Wildlife Resources has added her voice to those opposing seabed mining in waters in and around American Samoa. Dr Ruth Matagi-Tofiga, an educator and biologist said in a statement,...