In a week that saw the U.S. government rev its engines to accelerate offshore mining, a stark counterpoint emerged from the academic and conservation spheres. A new reflection paper, co-authored by PML Honorary Fellow Torsten Thiele, is urging the International Seabed Authority (ISA) to hit the brakes on deep-sea mining. The paper, “Delivering Benefits to Humankind: Opportunities for the International Seabed Authority under a Deep-Sea Mining Moratorium,” published by the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC), is a call to arms for a precautionary pause on mineral extraction from the ocean floor.
The paper doesn’t just throw a wrench in the gears of progress; it presents a roadmap for the ISA to navigate the complex waters of deep-sea management. Torsten Thiele, Founder of The Global Ocean Trust, co-authored Chapter Four, “Economics of a Deep-Sea Mining Moratorium,” with Ussif Rashid Sumaila, Professor of Ocean and Fisheries Economics at the University of British Columbia. Thiele argues, “The value of the deep sea floor ecosystems is immense. The ISA has an important role to play in safeguarding this blue natural capital and managing exploration.”
The timing of this paper is no coincidence. As governments and corporations eye the mineral riches of the deep sea, scientists are sounding the alarm. Kerry Howell, Professor of Deep-Sea Ecology at PML, is using AI to unravel the mysteries of the deep. She warns, “New technologies are enabling a far greater understanding of the deep ocean, but there is still much to be discovered and understood. The Deep Ocean plays a vital role in our planet’s climate system, supporting unique habitats and species as well as acting as a carbon sink. It is vital these regions are managed sensitively as there is much at stake.”
So, what does this mean for the future of deep-sea mining? The ISA is at a crossroads. It can choose to be the gatekeeper, ensuring that any mining activity is sustainable and beneficial to humankind as a whole. Or it can become the enabler, opening the floodgates to a new era of exploitation.
The U.S. government’s move to accelerate offshore mining is a shot across the bow, a clear signal that the race for resources is on. But the DSCC’s paper is a rallying cry for caution, a reminder that the deep sea is not a mining ground to be exploited, but a vital ecosystem to be protected.
The debate is heating up, and the stakes are high. The ISA’s response will shape the future of the deep sea and, by extension, the future of our planet. It’s a tall order, but the ISA has the power to make a real difference. The question is, will it step up to the plate? The world is watching, and the deep sea is waiting.
