Urgent Call for a Global Moratorium on Deep-Sea Mining
“We’re advocating for a global moratorium on deep-sea mining until scientific evidence demonstrates that this activity doesn’t cause irreversible damage,” asserts Simon Holmström, an advisor with the Brussels-based environmental organization Seas At Risk. This organization encompasses over 35 member groups across Europe dedicated to ocean conservation.
Holmström and his team are closely monitoring the activities of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), established in 1994 under the Law of the Sea Convention. They also scrutinize the European Union’s mineral policies and the broader developments within the mining sector.
No Framework in Place
Holmström emphasizes that the ISA has yet to put a binding framework in place for extracting metals from the ocean floor. “The negotiations are lengthy, largely fueled by escalating opposition from nations, researchers, and environmental groups who argue that our understanding is still insufficient to support a large-scale extraction industry in some of Earth’s most vulnerable ecosystems.”
As a result, no commercial licenses can be issued until such a framework is established. Yet, Holmström notes, there are currently 30 active exploration licenses globally. Some countries and companies, however, are attempting to circumvent this by pursuing licenses through national legislation, as seen in Norway.
The Metals Company
Among those striving to enter the deep-sea mining arena is The Metals Company, a Vancouver-based firm led by Australian Gerard Barron. The company has persistently pushed for metal extraction in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean.
Notably, former Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod has lent his lobbying expertise to The Metals Company in 2023. Kofod now serves as an advisor to Energy Transition Minerals, an Australian raw materials firm with an exploration license in southern Greenland.
Controversies and Lobbying Efforts
While The Metals Company claims that deep-sea mining is a sustainable alternative to terrestrial mining, Holmström raises concerns. The company has faced criticism from scientists and environmentalists for downplaying the ecological risks of underwater extraction.
Holmström points out that The Metals Company engages in vigorous lobbying activities and maintains close ties with U.S. authorities. Under President Donald Trump, an executive order was signed in April for the U.S. to embark on deep-sea mining in international waters—a move that flouts international regulations, despite the U.S. not having ratified the Law of the Sea. The Metals Company has applied for a license to explore the Pacific’s depths, a gesture that has reportedly received a favorable response from American officials. Plans for operations could commence as early as 2027, Holmström indicates. He expresses concern over the trend of former politicians being recruited by mining and energy companies to lend legitimacy to projects that might otherwise struggle for political backing.
Kofod’s Clarification
In response to inquiries from Sermitsiaq, Kofod clarified his involvement, stating he ended his consultancy with The Metals Company “more than two years ago,” emphasizing that “it had nothing to do with Greenland.” He insists that the direction for Greenland’s future in this regard lies in the hands of its local politicians and authorities.
With 40 countries now backing a moratorium or a preemptive pause on deep-sea mining, the ISA is set to continue negotiations on a regulatory framework until March 2026. As the debate intensifies, the efficacy and integrity of ocean conservation remain at the forefront of this pressing global issue.