Community members came together at the Guam Museum to make their voices heard on deep sea mining as the final public comment period neared its end.

Dozens of residents, students, scientists, and community leaders gathered in Hagåtña for “Our Ocean, Our Voice,” a community workshop focused on public comments regarding deep sea mining.

The event was hosted by the Office of the Governor and Lt. Governor and facilitated by the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant, along with Guam Green Growth.

The workshop aimed to provide information and tools to help the public submit comments on the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s proposal to open federal waters near the Marianas Trench, Guam, and the CNMI to deep sea mining.

Governor Lou Leon Guerrero and Lt. Governor Josh Tenorio called on the community to speak up, while experts from across the Pacific shared insight on the potential environmental, legal, and cultural impacts of mining the seabed.

Attendees were given opportunities to submit comments on site as the public comment period before it closed on Tuesday, Jan. 13 at 2:59 p.m. Guam time.