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The Latest Breaking News from the International Seabed Authority

The US plans to auction off sections of water around American Samoa in a push for deep-sea mining

The U.S. government is planning to auction off massive sections of water surrounding American Samoa for potential deep-sea mining

The Independent UK · Jul 17

Mining companies may soon bypass UN rules and mine the deep sea

A Canadian deep-sea mining company may become the first to commercially mine the international seabed under a controversial U.S. executive order that bypasses United Nations regulations. A recent legal analysis suggests that this could place Canada in violation of international law.

The Conversation · Jun 8

Trump-backed push for deep-sea mining 'unlawful': international regulator to AFP

Deep-sea mining companies face legal challenges if they proceed with plans to extract minerals from the ocean floor. The International Seabed Authority, responsible for regulations, warns that such actions will be considered unlawful. Companies are seeking to bypass the authority using untested US laws. This could lead to widespread litigation…

The Economic Times · May 22

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In its hunt for critical minerals, the US is misconstruing what is and is not America’s

Americans have a reputation for being bad at world geography, and the current U.S. administration is no exception, particularly when it comes to correctly identifying what is – and is not – part of the United States of America.

The Conversation · Mar 13

NOAA speeds up process to grant deep-sea mining permits

Final rule would speed process companies must go through to receive exploration licenses and commercial recovery permit applications.

Roll Call · Jan 27

Restoring Sea Floor After Mining May Not Be Possible, Researchers Warn

Scientists present at the latest effort to hash out international rules for deep-sea mining say it's unclear if it's possible to restore damaged sea floor ecosystems -- or how long it would take.

International Business Times · Jul 20, 2025

New Deep Sea Mining Rules Lack Consensus Despite US Pressure

After two weeks of negotiations, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) is still far from finalizing rules for extracting coveted metals on the high seas despite heightened pressure triggered by US efforts to fast-track the controversial practice.

International Business Times · Jul 18, 2025

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UN Body Warns Over Trump's Deep-sea Mining Order

The head of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) on Wednesday criticized US President Donald Trump's order to fast-track deep-sea mining in the open ocean outside American territorial waters.

International Business Times · May 1, 2025

Canadian company seeks US permission to start deep-sea mining as outcry ensues

An abrupt announcement has rattled members of a little-known U.N. agency based in Jamaica that has protected deep international waters for more than 30 years

The Independent UK · Mar 28, 2025

Deep-sea mining threatens sea life in a way no one is thinking about − by dumping debris into the thriving midwater zone

Picture an ocean world so deep and dark it feels like another planet – where creatures glow and life survives under crushing pressure.

The Conversation · Mar 25, 2025

Why Are Proposed Deep-sea Mining Rules So Contentious?

After more than a decade of negotiations, a new round of talks to finalize a code to regulate deep-sea mining in international waters begins Monday in Jamaica, with hopes high for adoption this year.

International Business Times · Mar 17, 2025

Mining deep sea despite unknowns

With a newly elected leader, the International Seabed Authority must decide the future of more than half of the wor

Salon · Aug 19, 2024

New Secretary General Elected Amid Deep-Sea Mining Debate

Leticia Carvalho elected as new Secretary General of International Seabed Authority. Concerns over deep-sea mining regulations and environmental impact.

This is a pivotal moment for deep-sea mining

Letters: The challenger to the current secretary general of the International Seabed Authority should be supported in this week’s election, writes Guy Standing

The Guardian - UK · Aug 1, 2024

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The Guardian - UK · Jul 29, 2024

Inside the battle for top job that will decide the future of deep-sea mining

Marking a pivotal moment for the fate of the barely known ecosystems on the ocean floor, 168 nations will decide this week who will head the International Seabed Authority

Salon · Jul 15, 2024

Last queen of Hawaii and deep-sea mining

As the U.N. weighs ocean floor mining, Hawai'i just banned the practice

The Guardian - UK · Oct 30, 2023

UK backs suspension of deep-sea mining in environmental U-turn

Thérèse Coffey says data will be gathered on impact of emerging industry and UK will not support licences in meantime

The Independent UK · Oct 25, 2023

Environmental groups reject deep-sea mining as key UN meeting looms

Environmental groups are urging a moratorium on deep-sea mining ahead of an international meeting in Jamaica where an obscure U.N. body will debate the issue amid fears it could soon authorize the world’s first license to harvest minerals from the ocean floor

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The Independent UK · Jul 14, 2023

Brazil wants 10-year pause on deep sea mining as UN agency under pressure to draft regulations

Brazil is urging a 10-year precautionary pause on deep sea mining in international waters just days after companies and countries were allowed to start applying for provisional licenses

The Independent UK · Jul 10, 2023

UN debates deep sea mining as countries and companies now allowed to seek provisional licenses

A U.N. agency tasked with regulating the deep sea is debating whether to open the Earth’s watery depths to countries and companies that are now allowed to start applying for provisional mining licenses

The Guardian - UK · Jul 10, 2023

UK should press pause on deep-sea mining, Labour says

David Lammy says Labour government would join growing list of countries and multinationals opposing rush to mine the seabed

ABC News · May 25, 2023

Thousands of unidentified deep-sea species found in part of Pacific Ocean earmarked for mining

Scientists calculate there are thousands of unidentified species living on the ocean floor between Hawaii and Mexico where deep-sea mining for critical minerals needed to build batteries is set to begin next year.

Reuters · Mar 31, 2023

UN to start taking deep-sea mining applications this July

The International Seabed Authority will start accepting applications in July from companies that want to mine the ocean's floor, a decision that came after the U.N. body spent the past two weeks debating standards for the new and controversial practice.

The Guardian - UK · Mar 21, 2023

Row erupts over deep-sea mining as world races to finalise vital regulations

Head of seabed authority accused of abandoning neutrality at critical point with first commercial application imminent

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