• The International Seabed Authority is meeting in Jamaica (March 9–20) to negotiate regulations that could enable the first commercial deep-sea mining operations in international waters, targeting mineral-rich zones like the Clarion-Clipperton Zone in the Pacific Ocean.
• Approximately 40 countries now support a moratorium or pause on deep-sea mining due to major environmental concerns, with marine researchers warning that seabed disturbances could severely impact fragile ecosystems and reduce biodiversity in hydrothermal vents and seamount areas.
• Despite environmental opposition, commercial interest intensifies as companies like The Metals Company, Deep Sea Minerals Corp., and Impossible Metals position themselves to extract polymetallic nodules containing nickel, cobalt, manganese, and copper—critical minerals essential for electric vehicle batteries and energy-transition technologies.

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The global debate over deep-sea mining is reaching a decisive phase as governments gather in Jamaica to determine whether commercial mining in international waters should proceed—or be paused. The International Seabed Authority (opens in a new tab) (ISA), the UN-mandated body overseeing seabed resources beyond national jurisdictions, is debating draft regulations that could allow the first industrial extraction of deep-ocean minerals. These deposits—rich in nickel, copper, cobalt, and manganese—are essential for batteries, electric vehicles, and advanced electronics. The outcome could reshape the future supply of critical minerals and influence geopolitical competition around energy-transition metals.

The UN Meeting That Could Open the Ocean Floor

From March 9–20, ISA member states are meeting in Kingston, Jamaica, to negotiate the long-awaited deep-sea mining code. If finalized, the rules could enable the first commercial mining operations in international seabed areas—particularly in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) of the Pacific Ocean.

Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (opens in a new tab) (UNCLOS), the ISA is the only international body authorized to regulate mining activities in seabed areas beyond national jurisdictions.

The stakes are high. The negotiations will help determine whether the deep ocean remains a protected global commons—or becomes the next frontier for industrial resource extraction.

Legal Tensions: Can Mining Happen Outside the ISA?

The policy debate has intensified amid suggestions that some companies or governments may attempt to pursue mining outside the ISA framework. After all, according to Rare Earth Exchanges™, we have entered a new phase in modern history—Great Powers Era 2.0.  Norms of the past decades are being shattered.

Legal experts argue such efforts could challenge UNCLOS, which classifies international seabed resources as the “common heritage of mankind.” Under that principle, mineral extraction must benefit all countries and be regulated through a multilateral system. Critics warn unilateral activity could undermine the existing governance structure designed to balance economic benefits with environmental protections.

Environmental Concerns Gather Political Momentum

Opposition to deep-sea mining is growing. By late 2025, roughly 40 countries had backed some form of moratorium or precautionary pause, citing major scientific uncertainties about ecosystem impacts.

Marine researchers warn that seabed disturbances can sharply reduce biodiversity in fragile environments such as hydrothermal vents and seamount ecosystems, which may contain unique biological resources with potential medical or scientific value.

Norway—once an early mover in deep-sea exploration—has faced growing domestic and international pressure over its plans to open Arctic seabed areas to exploration.

Strategic Minerals Driving Industry Interest

Despite environmental concerns, commercial interest continues to rise due to global demand for energy-transition metals.

Several companies are positioning themselves for future development:

• Lockheed Martin, via a UK subsidiary, holds legacy exploration rights in the Pacific.
• Deep Sea Minerals Corp. (DSMC) recently joined the U.S. Defense Industrial Base Consortium, signaling defense-sector interest in seabed resources.
• Impossible Metals, based in California, is exploring mining concepts targeting the Clarion-Clipperton Zone.
• The Metals Company, a leading seabed mining developer, secured $85 million in investment from Korea Zinc last year.

Polymetallic nodules in the CCZ contain high concentrations of nickel, cobalt, manganese, and copper, key inputs for EV batteries and electrification technologies.

A Turning Point for Critical Minerals Supply

Key issues—including environmental safeguards, revenue-sharing mechanisms, and regulatory oversight—remain unresolved. Yet pressure on the ISA to finalize mining rules is intensifying as governments and companies look for new sources of critical minerals.

The decisions emerging from these negotiations could determine whether deep-sea mining becomes a new pillar of the global minerals supply chain—or remains stalled by environmental and governance concerns.