By Gregoria Michael Towai
FOR thousands of years, the people of the Marianas have lived surrounded by the ocean. It has provided food, culture, identity, and a connection to the wider Pacific. Our islands were built with the ocean at the center, yet after all these millennia, we are only now beginning to realize the full economic, scientific, and cultural potential of what surrounds us. This should not be a late discovery. It should have been leveraged and positioned as a core foundation for prosperity generations ago.
Now, as the debate over seabed mining intensifies in the CNMI, we are being told that the only way to rescue our economy is by opening the seafloor to industrial extraction. It’s a narrative built on urgency and scarcity-but not on imagination, sovereignty, or long-term thinking.
If we are serious about protecting our islands and revitalizing our economy, then we must do more than repeat why seabed mining is dangerous. Opposition alone is not a strategy. Critique alone does not feed families, create jobs, or build a future. After carefully considering all arguments on both sides — and after diving deep into research on how other developing nations have managed their marine resources under economic pressures — I am offering a practical alternative. A forward-looking path that creates jobs, generates revenue, builds local capacity, and positions the Marianas as a global hub for ocean exploration and science.
We must offer a better path.
And the Marianas already has one.
The Blue Frontier: A smarter, sustainable, sovereign alternative
The Marianas is home to one of the most extraordinary ocean regions on Earth — from the Mariana Trench to our seamounts, coral systems, migratory corridors, and culturally rich coastal waters. These aren’t obstacles; they are leverage.
The same features that mining companies view as “resource deposits” are global magnets for scientific exploration, research, innovation, and high-value tourism-avenues that could bring revenue, education, and jobs without risking irreversible damage to our seafloor or identity. The Marianas has the potential to become a regional hub of ocean science and exploration, attracting universities, governments, NGOs, and private institutions to study, map, and innovate-all under our control.
And as we come out of Thanksgiving and head into Christmas and the New Year, most families should be feeling hope and anticipation. Instead, many households in the Marianas are facing financial stress, higher costs, and uncertainty about the year ahead. People are tired of fear-based decision-making. They want clarity, stability, and real opportunities they can count on.
For those who are skeptical of conservation” or “protection” language, it’s important to clarify: this is not about limiting what people can do. This is about expanding what we can do-building industries, creating jobs, attracting investment, and generating revenue while preserving the very assets that make the Marianas extraordinary. The Blue Frontier is an economic development model first and foremost, and its environmental and cultural benefits are natural byproducts of smart, sustainable decision-making.
A practical vision for the future
The Blue Frontier is grounded in concrete opportunities that can be acted on now:
1) A Hub of Ocean Research and Exploration
The Mariana Trench and surrounding ecosystems are some of the last unexplored frontiers on Earth. By developing research partnerships, hosting scientific expeditions, and building infrastructure for study, the CNMI could generate:
• Research and permitting revenue
• International collaborations and funding
• High-value jobs in science, tech, and logistics
• Educational opportunities for local youth
• Tourism tied to ocean exploration
This is economic development built on knowledge — not destruction.
2) Strengthened Marine Protected Areas With Economic Impact
Strategic expansion of MPAs improves fish stocks, supports coastal resilience, and attracts investment from global conservation and climate organizations-turning protection into economic value.
3) A Community-Driven Blue Economy
This includes:
• Eco-tourism centered on science, culture, and maritime heritage
• Sustainable fisheries backed by traditional knowledge and modern science
• Ocean-tech innovation labs and youth apprenticeships
• Local jobs in restoration, mapping, and monitoring
Around the world, blue economies are proving to be more durable and profitable than extractive industries because they are regenerative, not depletive.
4) Indigenous Leadership at the Center
Ocean governance grounded in Chamorro and Carolinian values strengthens identity, increases global support, and ensures decision-making rests with the communities who rely on these waters.
A call to action for leaders and the community
The Marianas already has the ingredients to succeed:
• Globally significant marine ecosystems that attract research and investment
• Strategic Indo-Pacific positioning
• Indigenous knowledge systems valued worldwide
• Untapped potential in science tourism, maritime heritage, and innovation
But potential alone isn’t enough. It requires leadership, political will, and community advocacy. With another election season approaching, the timing is critical. This is the moment for the community to urge our leaders — not just to oppose seabed mining, but to adopt and implement practical solutions like the Blue Frontier. Candidates, agency heads, and policymakers should place sustainable ocean-based economic development and ocean science at the top of their agenda. Local agencies must begin exploring and adopting these solutions now-not in five years, not after irreversible loss occurs.
The community has a voice. Elections amplify that voice. If we want to enter the new year with hope instead of anxiety, then we must use this moment to turn the Marianas into a global hub of ocean exploration, scientific discovery, and sustainable development.
It’s not enough to oppose seabed mining. We must champion what comes next.
The Marianas already has a stronger, practical, and achievable path waiting to be embraced.
