In a few weeks’ time the global body that regulates deep-sea mining, the International Seabed Authority (ISA), will hold its annual meeting where, among other issues being tackled, will be the election of its new Secretary General.
Several decades ago, scientists discovered that deep down the Ocean’s floor has rich deposits of rare earth metals. These precious minerals are a prized possession for industry, and are used in electronics to build anything from computers to mobile phones or electric cars. Currently China controls the world’s supply of rare earths metals found on land. However, keen to get in on this potentially billion-dollar jackpot, other countries, such as India or Papua New Guinea are looking to get in on the deep-sea action.
License applications to the ISA for commercial deep-sea mining in international waters are rapidly increasing. This is an Ocean gold-rush waiting to happen, in a part of the planet that is more alien to us than the moon. A growing number of deep-sea scientists, environmentalists and coastal communitieshave been voicing concerns about the impacts of deep-sea mining, as well as that the ISA process seems much more skewed towards commercial interests than conservation of a vast area of the common heritage of mankind. The ISA must agree regulations that ensure deep-sea habitats are effectively protected BEFORE deep-sea mining has started, rather than when it is too late. Show your concern by signing this petition.
