The world’s seabed authority needs reform that puts the planet first

After a country applies when there is no rule book in place, the ISA has two years to finalise comprehensive rules. If that effort fails, mining could theoretically start free of regulation. The deadline for Nauru expired on July 9, 2023 but some argue that this is not a hard deadline. Moreover, the ISA council has emphasised that commercial mining should not begin until regulations are adopted.

The Nauru subsidiary of TMC said it will apply for a licence following the conclusion of recent ISA talks. Since 1994, the ISA has granted 31 contracts for exploration. China has five, the most contracts of any member. The ISA has not rejected an application, a source of mistrust for anyone concerned about conserving the world’s oceans.

But when the projected costs of mining are assessed, studies show that deep-sea mining will not be economically sustainable for stakeholders, especially in the long run. Furthermore, there seems to be enough mineral resources on land to meet demand. The Institute of Sustainable Futures says the world’s transition to 100 per cent renewable energy could be met entirely with land-based reserves. These support the rationale for a pause.

The greatest fear is that there could be a “loss of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning that would be irreversible on multi-generational timescales”, according to a declaration signed by more than 800 scientists and policy experts. Deep-sea mining could negatively affect the oceans’ ability to store carbon, a function that slows climate change.

In 2020, a test conducted by researchers in Japan showed that sediment generated by mining caused a 43 per cent drop in the density of fish and shrimp.

Little is known about the deep seas. At least three-quarters of the sea floor