The Deep Sea Mining Race: Uncovering the Hidden Dangers

In 2012, a Canadian mining company embarked on a voyage to explore the remote Clarion-Clipperton Zone, located several hundred miles southeast of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean. Beneath the vast expanse of its seafloor, lying thousands of meters below the surface, is a treasure trove of metals and minerals worth billions of dollars. These essential resources are used in various applications, such as electrical wiring, stainless steel, car engines, jet engines, computers, and phones. While land-based deposits have traditionally met our mineral needs, the shift towards clean energy demands more metals, up to six times more. It is estimated that the Clarion-Clipperton Zone contains more of these valuable metals than all land-based deposits combined.

The rush to mine the deep sea has led to the deployment of 16 exploration ships from various countries and private companies, all vying to be the first to access this underwater bounty. However, the fate of deep sea mining lies in the hands of an obscure UN organization that grapples with two critical questions: Is the fight against climate change worth the irreversible environmental damage caused by seabed mining, and should a few nations profit exclusively from a shared natural resource just because they were the first to arrive?

The UN's involvement in regulating activities in international waters dates back to 1958 when it established laws of the sea. According to these laws, coastal countries have sovereignty over the waters within 12 miles of their shores, followed by an exclusive economic zone extending 200 miles from the coast. Beyond these limits, approximately 72% of the deep ocean, collectively referred to as "The Area," lies outside the jurisdiction of any single nation, making it the common heritage of all humanity. The Clarion-Clipperton Zone, rich in minerals, is located within The Area. Knowledge of this underwater wealth dates back to the 1870s when the British HMS Challenger's explorations revealed rocks on the seafloor containing valuable metals like manganese, cobalt, and nickel.

Researchers have identified three main types of metal deposits on the ocean floor: those found in hydrothermal vents, on undersea mountains, and as rocks on flat plains. The Clarion-Clipperton Zone contains the largest concentration of these deposits, sparking interest from multinational companies in the 1960s and 70s. They viewed the ocean floor as a source of essential materials for electrical wiring, stainless steel, and fertilizer. Companies from various countries descended on the Clarion-Clipperton Zone to test mining equipment and capture the first images of these underwater resources.

Amidst the early explorations, a Maltese delegate to the UN issued a crucial warning about avoiding the mistakes of colonialism. He argued that deep sea mining could lead to the monopolization of the world's resources by only a few nations, further increasing the disparity between the strong and the weak. In response, the UN convened in 1982 to establish additional laws of the sea, signed by over 100 countries. These laws outlined three key conditions for mining in The Area: it must benefit all of humanity, consider the needs of developing countries, and protect the marine environment. To enforce these rules, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) was established in Kingston, Jamaica, comprising all countries that signed the laws of the sea, currently numbering 168 along with the European Union.

Within the ISA, 36 countries are elected to review applications for mining in the deep sea every few years. To initiate deep sea mining, a country or company must first apply for an exploration contract through the council. Once approved, the council allocates a 75,000 square kilometer portion of the deep sea for exploration. To ensure fairness, an equivalent area is set aside for a developing country. Other nations or companies can gain access to these reserved areas by partnering with developing countries, facilitating their entry into the deep sea mining arena.

The Canadian mining company, The Metals Company, secured sponsorship from Pacific Island nations like Nauru, Kiribati, and Tonga, allowing them to claim additional areas reserved for developing countries. These exploration contracts have primarily involved testing equipment, conducting environmental reviews, and collecting rock samples.

To access the valuable metals found in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, mining companies deploy large robotic vacuum-like devices to sweep up and bring the rocks to the surface. Proponents of deep sea mining argue that this method is less environmentally impactful than land-based mining practices, such as cobalt mining in Congo and nickel mining in Indonesia, which have led to water contamination and deforestation.

However, opponents of deep sea mining express concerns that disturbing the seafloor at such great depths could harm ecosystems that remain poorly understood. The unique rocks in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone took millions of years to form, and rare species, adapted to this extreme environment, call these rocks home. Creatures like sponges and mollusks have created habitats on these rocks, and new species are still being discovered, including sea cucumbers and starfish. Deep sea mining has the potential to introduce noise and light pollution and create sediment plumes that can travel for miles, negatively impacting marine life. A 2020 study off the coast of Japan found that seabed mining resulted in a 43% decline in fish and shrimp populations for up to a year after sediment plume formation.

The environmental concerns associated with deep sea mining have led to calls for a moratorium or ban on such activities from at least 21 countries. The exploration crews preparing for mining operations have faced protests from the environmental community. Nonetheless, in 2021, The Metals Company went public on the New York Stock Exchange, signaling a significant step toward commercial mining. The company's CEO emphasized their mission to contribute to the decarbonization of global energy and transportation.

In the same year, The Metals Company and Nauru informed the ISA council of their intention to apply for a mining license. However, the ISA has not yet established specific regulations for deep sea mining, triggering a two-year rule requiring the organization to develop such regulations. In July 2023, the ISA convened with the aim of addressing this issue. Countries supporting deep sea mining, including China, Norway, and the UK, argue that finding additional metals is vital for the transition to clean energy. However, opponents contend that the lack of comprehensive knowledge about the deep sea, coupled with uncertainties about profit-sharing mechanisms, necessitates caution.

As of now, the ISA has reached a stalemate, with no mining regulations in place. The Metals Company plans to submit their mining application in 2024, resetting the clock for the ISA to reach a consensus on regulations. This development suggests that the race to mine the ocean's depths may intensify, raising concerns about the potential destruction of land and sea ecosystems in the pursuit of metals.

Mitigating the negative consequences of deep sea mining could be facilitated by another kind of race—research ships racing to document the ecosystem in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone. This knowledge can help minimize the damage or at least provide a better understanding of the environmental costs associated with addressing the global climate crisis.

In conclusion, the rush to mine the deep sea is raising significant environmental and ethical questions, with concerns about potential damage to fragile ecosystems and the equitable distribution of profits. As nations and companies pursue the vast mineral wealth lying beneath the ocean's surface, they must carefully weigh the environmental and ethical implications of their actions.