Countries have debated for decades whether to allow mining on the ocean floor, a potential trove of critical minerals. Now, a Canadian startup says it will move ahead, whether or not rules are in place.
There's no rulebook for deep-sea mining. One company wants to push forward anyway toggle caption NOAA Ocean Exploration In the global race for critical minerals, one little-known international agency has long held the keys to a potential motherlode – vast quantities of metals located on the remote seafloor. The International Seabed Authority (ISA) has worked for more than a decade to draw up regulations for a future deep-sea mining industry. Those efforts continued this week as negotiators from around the world convened at ISA headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica. Now, though, one mining firm says it plans to move forward — with or without a rulebook in place. Sponsor Message The Metals Company, a Canadian startup, says it will seek approval this year to launch the world's first deep-sea mine in the eastern Pacific Ocean, by working with one of the few countries that never joined the ISA: the United States. Some delegates and observers at the ISA meeting in Kingston condemned the move, saying it could lead to poorly regulated mining and harm ocean health. "This is a desperate, very dangerous announcement," said Louisa Casson, an activist with Greenpeace International. "It's a slap in the face to international cooperation." Gerard Barron, CEO of The Metals Company, said he made the controversial decision after the ISA missed deadlines for finalizing its regulations. He hopes the Trump Administration can provide a quicker path to mining approval. "The U.S. is showing very strong leadership at a time when industrialization and jobs have left the U.S.," Barron said. "They need to rebuild. They need metals to do that." Why mine the ocean floor? Scientists know little about the deep seabed. Most of the ocean floor hasn't been mapped. Researchers believe most species living there remain unidentified. But one thing is certain: There's a lot of metal down there, including key materials used in technology like electric car batteries. Sponsor Message The U.S.…