Fiji, May 20 -- Pacific leaders and regional partners have called for stronger Pacific-led governance of deep seabed minerals, stressing sustainability, environmental protection and respect for international law as debates over ocean mining continue across the region.

The call came during the opening of the Pacific SIDS Regional Workshop on the Deep Seabed Sustainable Blue Growth Initiative, attended by Pacific governments, partners and the International Seabed Authority in Fiji on Tuesday.

Opening the workshop, Fiji's Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources Filimoni Vosarogo said Pacific countries carried a responsibility to protect the ocean while discussing the future of seabed resources.

"The ocean has sustained Pacific peoples fo...