# Deep Sea Mining Push: Canadian Company Seeks Trump’s Approval, Igniting International Controversy

## Deep Sea Mining Push: Canadian Company Seeks Trump’s Approval, Igniting International Controversy

A Canadian mining company, The Metals Company (TMC), is seeking permission from the Trump administration to begin commercially mining the deep sea in international waters. This move, announced recently, has ignited a firestorm of criticism from governments and environmental groups who view it as a blatant disregard for international law and the fragile deep-sea ecosystem.

TMC’s application comes on the heels of an executive order signed by President Trump aimed at fast-tracking deep seabed mining, a move framed as a countermeasure to China’s dominance in critical mineral supply chains. The administration is leveraging the 1980 US Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act and the US’s non-ratification of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to assert its authority in granting these permits. This convention established the International Seabed Authority (ISA), currently developing regulations for deep-sea mining.

Critics argue that proceeding with mining before establishing comprehensive international rules and fully understanding the potential environmental consequences is reckless. Louisa Casson, a senior campaigner at Greenpeace International, condemned the move as “an act of total disregard for international law and scientific consensus,” urging governments to defend international cooperation against what she calls “rogue deep sea mining.”

The ISA missed a critical deadline in 2023 to finalize regulations due to disagreements on liability for potential environmental damage. Scientists and environmental advocates highlight the vast knowledge gap concerning the deep sea, emphasizing the potential for far-reaching effects on marine life and coastal communities. Notably, the surface of the Moon is better mapped than the Earth’s seafloor, where scientists are still making novel discoveries. More than 30 countries, including Canada and Mexico, have called for a ban or moratorium on deep-sea mining until international regulations are in place.

TMC’s target is a 25,160 square kilometer area within the Clarion Clipperton Zone, a region between Hawaii and Mexico rich in polymetallic nodules containing nickel, cobalt, and manganese – critical minerals for batteries. The company estimates that the area holds substantial quantities of these resources.

While TMC argues that deep-sea mining is less harmful than terrestrial mining, opponents emphasize the importance of developing alternatives. EV companies are actively working to reduce their reliance on nickel and cobalt in batteries. Furthermore, experts estimate that recycling could meet half of the US’s cobalt and nickel demand for EVs by 2050.

The debate surrounding deep sea mining is intensifying, pitting the potential for economic gain against the imperative to protect a largely unexplored and potentially vulnerable ecosystem. As the Trump administration considers TMC’s application, the world watches, questioning the long-term consequences of this controversial endeavor.