It links us to our ancestors – it’s more than just the ocean.” The legislation also creates fifteen marine protected areas extending to 50 nautical miles around each island where no large scale commercial fishing or seabed minerals activities are permitted.

[9] In late 2018, the Cook Islands government began consultations to revise the seabed minerals act, which would facilitate exploration for deep sea mining.

[10] In August 2019, a ten-year moratorium was proposed on seabed mining in the protected area at the Pacific Islands Forum creating both national and international debate.

[10] The Cook Islands government has also faced a history of accusations of exploiting its national waters, including selling fishing licenses to foreign companies.

Henry Puna, the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, stated that a motivation to introduce deep-sea mining was a factor in the government's support of the Marae Moana: "We have minerals in our ocean, it’s just a matter of coming up with the technology to exploit it but not damage the environment.

[11] In September 2019, Jacqueline Evans, a prominent marine biologist and Goldman Environmental Prize Recipient who was openly critical of the government's plans for seabed mining was replaced as director of the park by instruction of the Office of the Prime Minister.