SAIPAN — Friends of the Mariana Trench is calling for public hearings and an extension of the federal comment period in response to a new Request for Information and Interest (RFI) published by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) regarding potential deep sea mineral leasing in waters near the Mariana Trench.
The group reiterated its strong opposition to deep sea mining, criticizing what it describes as a lack of transparency in federal motivations to extract minerals from the seafloor of the Northern Mariana Islands.
The RFI, published in the Federal Register on November 12, 2025, opens a process that could lead to a future lease sale for minerals in the region, which the group identifies as the ancestral waters of the Chamorro and Refaluwasch peoples.
Friends of the Mariana Trench board chair emeritus Ignacio “Ike” V. Cabrera said the federal government should honor Gov. David M. Apatang’s request for a 120-day extension. He also urged BOEM to hold public hearings on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. “It is unfair and unjust to burden our local agencies with this task,” he said.
Board member and youth leader Kina Rangamar emphasized the urgency of the issue, warning that deep sea mining poses harms that the community “cannot endure” and should not postpone discussing.
Chairwoman Sheila Babauta called the ocean “our oldest relative” and described deep sea mining as a violent disruption of ancestral waters. She added that the islands “are not sacrifice zones” and said governance must protect biodiversity and uphold Indigenous sovereignty rather than promote extractive practices.
The organization stated its stance aligns with growing regional and international movements opposing deep sea mining, including actions by Pacific Island nations, youth advocates, elders, and environmental coalitions.
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