The International Seabed Authority (ISA) has failed to reach consensus on finalising deep-sea mining regulations, despite pressure from the United States to expedite the process. 

• Although not a member of UNCLOS or ISA, the US administration under President Trump directed a fast-tracking of mining permits using a 1980 domestic law.

Key Developments at ISA Negotiations

• Proposed Mining Code: 36 Member states of ISA have recently reviewed a draft with 107 rules, but there is no agreement yet—especially about how to protect the ocean environment.
• Lack of Consensus: Key regulations concerning marine environmental safeguards remain unresolved, with several member states calling for more scientific data before mining begins.
• Moratorium: Chile and 36 other nations have demanded a moratorium on deep sea mining until comprehensive scientific impact assessments are completed.

About Deep Sea Mining

• Deep sea mining is the process of extracting and excavating mineral deposits and metals from the ocean’s seabed i.e. the ocean below 200m.
• Targeted Mineral Deposits:
• • Polymetallic Nodules: These are rock-like formations rich in metals like manganese, nickel, copper, and cobalt, found on the abyssal plains. 
  • Cobalt-Rich Crusts: These are deposits of cobalt, manganese, and nickel found on the surfaces of rocks on seamounts (underwater mountains). 
  • Seafloor Massive Sulfides (SMS): These are deposits formed around hydrothermal vents, containing high concentrations of metals like copper, gold, silver, and zinc.
• These minerals are crucial for battery production, renewable energy technologies, and electronics like mobile phones and computers.

Potential Benefits of Deep-Sea Mining

• Decarbonisation Efforts: Deep sea resources can help meet the critical future need for critical minerals necessary for scaling the decarbonization efforts.
• Surge in Global Demand: It is estimated to rise by as much as 400%-600% in the coming decades  for some such minerals as the world increases its reliance on wind and solar power, electric vehicles, batteries and other zero-carbon technologies. 
• Complement Land Based Source: The depletion of mineral resources on land and  hurdles in locating viable reserves and quickly scaling up mining and processing operations will be complemented by the resources for deep sea maintaining a continuous flow in supply chain.

Concerns Regarding Deep Sea MIning

• Increased Pollution: Marine Species such as whales, tuna and sharks could be affected by noise, vibrations and light pollution caused by mining equipment and surface vessels, as well as potential leaks and spills of fuel and toxic products.
• Sediment Plumes: Mining of surface will stir up fine sediments on the seafloor, creating plumes of suspended particles which could smother animals, harm filter-feeding species, and block their visual communication. 
  • The problem will be exacerbated by mining ships discharging waste water at the surface.
• Habitat Destruction: The digging and gauging of the ocean floor by can alter or destroy deep-sea habitats which will result in species extinction many of endemic nature and the fragmentation or loss of ecosystem structure and function
• Exacerbating Climate Change: Deep-sea mining could exacerbate the process of climate change as it will disrupt the carbon sink ( absorbing and storing large amounts of carbon dioxide) properties of deep sea.
• No Governance Structure: There are concerns about the lack of effective international regulations and governance to ensure that deep-sea mining is conducted responsibly and sustainably.
• Economic and Social Risks: The deep-sea mining industry would need shoreline facilities for processing or transhipment of material  requiring land acquisition and development, driving habitat loss affecting coastal communities dependent on marine resources the most.

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