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The international community is allegedly facing a significant shortage of minerals on land.\u00a0 It is reported that the shortage of \u201c<\/span>critical minerals\u2026threatens to jeopardize the low-carbon transition and destabilize global energy security<\/a>\u2026\u201d In search of alternatives, governments are now exploring the potential of deep-sea mining.\u00a0 In brief, deep-sea mining is the process of vacuuming the ocean floor for<\/span>polymetallic nodules<\/a>. It is believed these nodules have the ability to power technology such as cell phones, computers, and electric cars. What is not clear and is hotly debated are the<\/span>consequences of removing these minerals from the ocean floor.<\/span><\/a>\u00a0Advocates of deep-sea mining argue that this is a great response to solving<\/span>climate change<\/a>. Those who take the middle-of-the-road approach argue that a moratorium should take place<\/span>until scientific research is conducted<\/a> and safety parameters are in place. Strict opponents of deep-sea mining argue that the ocean, which represents the earth\u2019s largest carbon sink will be destroyed and \u201c<\/span>suffer irreversible losses<\/a>\u201d thereby mitigating any benefits it may have had in addressing climate change. In fact, research indicates that deep-sea mining \u201cdisrupts and releases carbon stored in seafloor sediments, exacerbating the effects of climate change.\u201d [1] Climate change already has a significant impact on the oceans and their<\/span>delicate ecosystems<\/a>. Deep-sea mining will also<\/span>exacerbate food security<\/a> for countries that depend on fish stock for the needs of communities that depend on the ocean for their sustenance.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The deep-sea bed and its resources are considered part of the \u201ccommon heritage of [human]kind\u201d per the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).\u00a0 All parties to UNCLOS are members of the International Seabed Authority (ISA). The ISA\u2019s mandate, prescribed by UNCLOS, is to \u201c<\/span>organize and control all mineral-related<\/a>\u201d activity in the international seabed area. Currently, the ISA has only developed Exploration Regulations which govern prospecting for<\/span>polymetallic<\/a>nodules<\/a>, polymetallic<\/span>sulphide<\/a>, and<\/span>cobalt crusts<\/a>.\u00a0 Till date there are no regulations for the exploitation of mineral resources from the seabed. However, the nation of Nauru announced in 2021 its intention to begin exploiting resources in the ocean, invoking the notice provision, referred to as the \u201ctwo-year rule\u201d contained in UNCLOS. This now gives the ISA an extremely quick turnaround time to develop and finish the<\/span>Mining Code<\/a>, where negotiations have been delayed since 2020 due to COVID-19.\u00a0 The ISA appears<\/span>ill-equipped to handle the pressure<\/a> it is under to properly evaluate and complete the Mining Code before Nauru, through The Metals Company (Canada) begins exploitation.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n In response to the current activities of the ISA, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) passed a<\/span>Resolution in 2021<\/a> calling for a moratorium on deep seabed mining including stopping any issuance of new exploitation and exploration contracts until certain conditions are met. Those conditions are 1) impact assessment of all risks associated with deep seabed mining, 2) implementation of the precautionary principle, 3) policies and practices that ensure responsible mining, 4) creation of public consultation mechanisms. In addition, the Resolution asks for reform of the ISA.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n While governments now race to create and manage ocean-related projects for bio-prospecting, with an eye towards exploitation, Papua New Guinea serves as a<\/span>cautionary tale on deep-sea mining<\/a>. Around 2011, Papua New Guinea contracted with Nautilus Minerals (Canada) to begin deep-sea mining within a 5-year timeframe. Nautilus claimed that no one \u201c<\/span>seriously challenged<\/a>\u201d the projections made in their<\/span>environmental impact statement<\/a>.\u00a0 The ore that would have been mined from the ocean floor was planned to be sold directly to China.<\/span>Human Rights Defenders and Environmentalists<\/a> questioned the outcome of the environmental impact statement, arguing that<\/span>free, prior, and informed consent<\/a> among local communities was lacking and that there was no benefit to local communities.\u00a0 In the end<\/span>protests from the communities, delayed payments, and internal financial woes<\/a> caused the project led by Nautilus \u2013 to sink.\u00a0 Although the project was in the exploratory phase until Nautilus\u2019s bankruptcy in 2019, local communities have reported the machines used for exploration \u201c<\/span>damaged sea life and disrupted cultural practices<\/a>.\u201d\u00a0 The noise from the machines also scared away fish stock that the local communities depended on for food security. In addition to the damage caused to communities, the Government of Papua New Guinea was left with an approximate $120 – 150-million-dollar debt as a result of the failed contract. In 2019, the Government of Papua New Guinea (now wiser) joined the Governments of Fiji and Vanuatu in a<\/span>ten-year moratorium<\/a> on seabed mining in their waters to allow for \u201c<\/span>proper scientific research<\/a>\u201d to be conducted. Activists in Papua New Guinea are still concerned the licenses for the project, now held by<\/span>Nautilus Minerals Niugini,<\/span><\/a> could become activated.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n While the debate around deep-sea mining continues to unfold in different parts of the world, UNESCO has launched the \u201c<\/span>Ocean Decade<\/a>\u201d a decade-long (2021 \u2013 2030) program to increase public awareness about the world\u2019s oceans.\u00a0 The first UN Ocean Conference will be held in Lisbon, Portugal during the summer of 2022 (rescheduled previously due to the pandemic).<\/span>Some researchers<\/a> believe the dialogues taking place throughout the globe for the Ocean Decade may usher in further discussions as to how to protect our oceans and place limits on sea mining. The Government of Fiji has called upon all governments to impose a complete<\/span>moratorium on deep-sea mining<\/a> until 2030. This would be consistent with the research and dialogue that is supposed to take place throughout the Ocean Decade. Corporations are also starting to back the moratorium.<\/span>AB Volvo, Google, BMW, and Samsung<\/a> have backed the moratorium on deep-sea mining in addition to committing not to source minerals and exclude them from their supply chains.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n