Movement towards a mining moratorium

Mining in international waters is a hotly debated topic. One of the discussion points is environmental concerns about the effect of mining on the unique and poorly understood abyssal plain ecosystem. The Deep-Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC) is passionate about protecting the marine environment. Their overarching goal is to substantially reduce the greatest threats to life in the deep sea and to safeguard the long-term integrity of the ecosystem. Threats include pollutants, plastic and climate change, but also proposed deep-sea mining activities.

Although the International Seabed Authority (ISA) is still working on a mining code and has yet to give the green light for deep-sea mineral exploitation, the DSCC is already calling for a mining moratorium. So far, forty countries have taken a stance against mining in international waters. The majority of these countries are in favour of a precautionary pause to allow more time for further research and regulatory development, exactly what ISA is working on. A more select group calls for a formal agreement to temporarily prohibit deep-sea mining. France is the only country to call for a complete ban. That is surprising, since France has the largest exclusive economic zone (EEZ) out of all countries, thanks to its overseas territories dotted around four of the world’s oceans. However, it applies the same rule in its own waters; it is not exploiting its marine metallic resources, even though much of France’s EEZ is highly prospective.

On the seamounts surrounding French Polynesia, for example, iron-manganese crusts enriched in cobalt and platinum have formed. Regardless of the economic promise, the indigenous Polynesian population is in agreement with the ban; they have environmental concerns and regard the ocean as a sacred and spiritual place.

The 200 nautical mile radius around Clipperton Island is undoubtedly rich in polymetallic nodules, like the rest of the Clarion-Clipperton zone. France claimed the uninhabited atoll in 1858, being the only surface exposure of the much-explored Clipperton Fracture Zone, of which the majority resides in international waters.

But it is not only governments calling for a moratorium; 71 companies have signed a similar appeal by WWF. Among them are multiple car manufacturers and tech companies. This is interesting because these types of companies are often mentioned as beneficiaries of deep-sea minerals. The metals can be used to manufacture EV batteries, while rare earth elements are needed for technology to function at high standards. Clearly, Volkswagen, BMW, Apple, Philips and others are confident that terrestrial supply will be sufficient.