International Seabed Authority Begins Negotiations on Future of Deep-Sea Mining in Region

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Jamaica-based International Seabed Authority (ISA) has begun negotiations concerning the future of deep-sea mining and mineral extraction.

In 2021, the Pacific Island of Nauru made a formal request to the ISA,  the UN body that oversees mining in international waters,  for a commercial license to begin deep sea mining.

The ISA member states have spent the last decade trying to reach an agreement on a mining code for the possible extraction of nickel, cobalt and copper in deep seabed areas that fall outside of national jurisdictions.

But they have not been able to reach an agreement and during the ISA meeting, expected to last until the end of the month, member countries will have to consider licenses for potentially environmentally devastating mining operations if governments request them.

In March, the ISA Council, the decision-making body on contracts, noted that commercial exploitation “should not be carried out” until the mining code was in place.

However, non-government organizations (NGOs) fear that companies will take advantage of the legal loophole and are hoping that the Council will take a clearer decision by July 21.

Nearly 200 countries including Switzerland, Spain and Germany are calling for a pause or moratorium on the practice over environmental concerns. However, fewer than 20 countries currently support the moratorium, with Chile, France, Palau and Vanuatu choosing to take the debate to the political level.

At their request,  the ISA’s 167 member states will discuss a “precautionary pause” in mining when it meets between July 24 and 28.

Scientists recently announced that more than 5,000 different animals have been found in the Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ) of the Pacific Ocean – a key area earmarked for future mining efforts.