Global Talks Begin on Deep-Sea Mining Amid Calls for Moratorium

The International Seabed Authority convenes in Jamaica to negotiate mining regulations as concerns grow over environmental risks and lack of safeguards.

• The International Seabed Authority (ISA) has started a two-week session in Kingston, Jamaica, to discuss regulations for deep-sea mining in international waters.
• A Canadian company, The Metals Company (TMC), supported by the Pacific island nation of Nauru, plans to submit the first-ever application for commercial deep-sea mining in June 2025.
• The proposed mining would target the Clarion-Clipperton Zone in the Pacific, which contains valuable metals like nickel, cobalt, and copper used in batteries and digital technologies.
• Environmental groups and scientists warn that mining could irreversibly damage deep-sea ecosystems, which are poorly understood but vital to oceanic food chains.
• Over 30 nations, including Germany and France, are advocating for a moratorium or a pause on deep-sea mining until more is known about its environmental impact.

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