The Race for Deep-Sea Metals

The rising demand for metals such as nickel, cobalt, copper, and manganese — essential for green technologies and electronics — has pushed companies to explore new frontiers: the deep ocean floor. Canadian-based company The Metals Company (TMC) is at the forefront of this movement, beginning the extraction of polymetallic nodules in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, a mineral-rich region between Hawaii and Mexico.

TMC, through its subsidiary Nauru Ocean Resources Inc. (NORI), had already secured exploratory contracts from the International Seabed Authority (ISA) in 2011. In April 2025, the company submitted applications for commercial and additional exploration licenses under U.S. legislation, capitalizing on an executive order from former President Donald Trump aimed at fast-tracking deep-sea mining permits.

Legal and Environmental Controversies

TMC’s decision to pursue licensing via NOAA — the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — rather than relying solely on ISA processes, has sparked criticism. Experts point out that even though the U.S. is not a signatory of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, it is still expected to adhere to international norms.

Environmentalists and scientists warn of the risks associated with seabed mining, including the destruction of marine habitats, release of carbon stored in sediments, and harm to yet-undiscovered species.

The Executive Order and Its Impact

The executive order signed by Trump in April 2025 directs federal agencies to expedite the permitting process for deep-sea mining, aiming to reduce U.S. dependence on critical minerals from China. The measure also challenges the authority of the ISA, which has yet to finalize regulations for commercial mining in international waters.

Critics argue that this unilateral approach may undermine ocean governance and encourage unregulated exploitation of the seabed.

Future Outlook

As companies like TMC move forward with their projects, the international community faces the challenge of balancing the demand for essential minerals with the preservation of marine ecosystems. The lack of consensus on regulations and the potential environmental impacts place deep-sea mining at the center of a global debate on sustainability and ocean governance.

Main Source: Scientific American

Photo by Jakub Dziubak on Unsplash

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