Deep sea mining (DSM) is an imminent venture in Pacific Island (PI) countries like Papua New Guinea (PNG), Tonga, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands (SI). Despite DSM’s experimental nature and a dearth of knowledge about hydrothermal vents and deep sea ecosystems, companies are already prospecting in PI nations’ waters with an aim to begin mining as early as 2018. Model legislation being touted around the region focuses more on ensuring a clear licensing regime and conditions favourable to industry than establishing effective safeguards for PI citizens. In particular, there is a general failure to incorporate sufficient environmental protections, as well as the norm of free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) for indigenous peoples, who are most likely to be impacted by DSM. In the 21st century, and under well-established norms of international law, these omissions represent serious violations of international legal obligations.