Signal Over 40 states call for a deep-sea mining moratorium

Summary

The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea treats the deep seabed beyond national jurisdiction as the common heritage of humankind and bars any state from claiming its minerals unilaterally. The International Seabed Authority, set up under the convention, has the mandate to license seabed activities and to draft binding mining rules on access and liability. Agreement on rules for commercial mining has not been reached, however, and the authority has granted only exploration licences. Its mandate covers mineral resources alone and does not extend to general seafloor protection or to bottom trawling. Against this background, more than 40 states have urged a pause on commercial seabed mining until more environmental research is done. The report calls for a precautionary approach, cumulative impact assessments and stronger international cooperation for emerging industries such as deep-sea mining.