By Newspot Nigeria Staff Writer
In a development that has stirred widespread disappointment across environmental and civil society circles, the 30th session of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) concluded in Kingston, Jamaica, without adopting a long-anticipated moratorium on deep-sea mining. This outcome has alarmed scientists, environmentalists, and governments who warn that commercial exploitation of seabed minerals could irreversibly damage fragile marine ecosystems.
The ISA Council, which oversees the regulation of mineral-related activities in the international seabed area, completed a second reading of the draft regulations that would govern deep-sea mining. However, according to the Earth Negotiations Bulletin published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development, large portions of the text remain unresolved, requiring further negotiation.
While some nations—including Germany, Ireland, and Greece—advocate for caution and deeper scientific understanding before proceeding, others push for the rapid finalization of regulations to reduce uncertainty and discourage operations outside the ISA’s legal framework. Notably, The Metals Company (TMC), a U.S.-linked firm, has signaled its intent to mine in international waters, raising fears of precedent-setting actions without full environmental oversight.
Julian Jackson, Director at Pew Charitable Trusts, emphasized in a message to Mongabay that the ISA must heed the “growing wave of governments, businesses, scientists, organizations, and communities worldwide urging a moratorium.” He cautioned that without robust science-backed protections, the marine environment could face irreversible harm.
The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC), a global alliance of over 130 organizations, issued a strong statement criticizing the ISA’s failure to address the deep ocean’s role in climate regulation and its limited understanding of biodiversity in the seabed. The group urged governments to reflect on the “political and moral costs of inaction” and reaffirmed calls for a moratorium on seabed mining.
Farah Obaidullah, founder of The Ocean and Us, warned that the commencement of deep-sea mining would lead to mass extinction of species—many yet undiscovered—and threaten vital oceanic functions like carbon sequestration.
In a separate statement, Greenpeace Aotearoa campaigner Juressa Lee condemned deep-sea mining as “the latest form of colonisation and extraction,” linking it to broader issues of environmental injustice and exploitation.
So far, 38 countries, including France, Brazil, and Palau, have endorsed a moratorium or precautionary pause. However, the ISA Assembly has yet to formally consider or debate the growing global demand for restraint, even as negotiations on the draft mining code are scheduled to continue into the next session in 2026.
Amid these tensions, some African voices are rising in support of a moratorium. Ambassador Fidellis Onu, speaking from Nigeria, issued a powerful appeal:
“The deep seabed is not a sacrifice zone. It is a cradle of biodiversity, a climate regulator, and a legacy we owe future generations. We urge all nations in the Gulf of Guinea to speak up, act decisively, and choose preservation over plunder. Let us be the voice of the deep sea.”
The debate around deep-sea mining remains one of the most pressing—and divisive—global environmental issues. As corporations eye manganese, cobalt, and rare earth deposits in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone and beyond, the absence of binding safeguards leaves many ecosystems in peril.
The world now watches whether ISA member states will take a definitive stand in 2026 or continue to delay amid escalating ecological and ethical concerns.
This report was compiled by Newspot Nigeria as part of its environmental affairs coverage.
