Tuvalu Seabed Minerals Act 2014 (No. 14 of 2014).

This Act provides rules for prospecting, exploration or mining of seabed minerals within Tuvalu’s national jurisdiction or exploration or mining of seabed minerals in the area under Tuvalu’s sponsorship, i.e. the seabed and ocean floor and subsoil thereof beyond the limits of national jurisdiction as defined under Article 1(1) of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Act establishes the Tuvalu Seabed Minerals Authority and the Tuvalu Seabed Minerals Advisory Council.
The Council shall, among other things, develop policies for the purpose of regulating and monitoring the development of the Tuvaluan Seabed Minerals sector, manage the designation and allocation of exploration or exploitation titles and cooperate with the Department of Environment in the conduct and review of environmental impact assessments for seabed mineral activities required under this Act and the Environmental Protection Act 2008. A title holder, or person conducting marine scientific research shall not interfere with lawfully conducted fishing operations. This Act shall apply the Precautionary Approach and be in line with other environmental principles for the protection of the marine environment and ecosystems.