Deep sea mining News

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A sponge crab (Sphaerodromia brizops) collected at the Muirfield Seamount, southwest of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.

Scientists discover 149 new deep-sea species at remote Indian Ocean seamounts

Emma Smith 26 Aug 2026
Manganese nodules on the seafloor in the Clarion-Clipperton zone that's been considered for deep-sea mining. Image by ROV KIEL 6000, GEOMAR - Geomar Bilddatenbank via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0).

Six African countries now support precautionary pause on deep-seabed mining

Victoria Schneider 13 Aug 2026
Aerial photograph of the nickel processing facilities in Morowali.

Nickel expansion puts Indonesia’s biodiversity goals under pressure, study finds

Hans Nicholas Jong 12 Aug 2026
Benthic jellyfish in the deep sea

UN regulator delays deep-sea mining rules, but extends criticized exploration contract

Elizabeth Claire Alberts 29 Jul 2026

US government announces plans to lease deep-sea mining rights in American Samoa

Elizabeth Claire Alberts 17 Jul 2026

Deep sea mining identified as biggest threat to known and unknown deep-sea creatures

Victoria Schneider 15 Jul 2026
Deep-sea glass squid

Experts say ‘bare bones’ US laws are unfit to regulate nascent deep-sea mining industry

Elizabeth Claire Alberts 9 Jun 2026
Model of Jiaolong submersible at the Five-Year Achievements Exhibition. Image by N509FZ via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

How we tracked China’s deep-sea mining fleet

Elizabeth Claire Alberts, Kara Fox 1 Jun 2026

‘World’s deepest banner protest’ launched at the bottom of the sea

Liz Kimbrough 28 May 2026
A glass octopus, a nearly transparent species whose only visible features are its optic nerve, eyeballs and digestive tract.

As economic case for deep-sea mining weakens, industry should halt urgency to begin operation (commentary)

Andy Whitmore 28 May 2026
Deep-sea starfish in American Samoa

US prepares to auction leases for seabed mining blocks in federal waters

Elizabeth Claire Alberts 27 May 2026
A squat lobster in the deep sea.

Deep-sea wildernesses are more important than the promise of seafloor mining (analysis)

Andrew D. Thaler 14 Apr 2026
Casper octopus

This ghost octopus is facing a new threat

Juan Maza 14 Apr 2026
Collage of the 24 new Amphipod species identified in Clarion-Clipperton Zone, CC BY, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton

24 new species found in ocean zone eyed for battery metals mining

Liz Kimbrough 9 Apr 2026
Great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran).

Migratory species summit adopts new marine protections amid extinction warnings

Francesco De Augustinis 8 Apr 2026

American Samoa said ‘no’ to deep sea mining, Washington heard ‘faster’ (commentary)

Jackie Dragon 1 Apr 2026
Sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis) mother and calf as seen from the air. Image by Christin Khan NOAA/NEFSC via Wikimedia. (CC BY-SA 4.0).

With high seas treaty in place, West African countries plan for protected area

Victoria Schneider 31 Mar 2026

China’s deep-sea mining fleet may also track US submarines

Elizabeth Claire Alberts, Kara Fox 24 Mar 2026

Deep-sea mining rules face delays despite urgent push

Elizabeth Claire Alberts 20 Mar 2026
A humpback whale breaching in Alaskan waters.

Indigenous concerns surface as U.S. agency considers seabed mining in Alaskan waters

Anita Hofschneider 11 Feb 2026

A new treaty comes into force to govern life on the high seas

Rhett Ayers Butler 17 Jan 2026
This sea cucumbers belongs to the same family as sea pigs and swims in search of food and to escape predators. Behind it is a stalked glass sponge.

Deep-sea mining interests raise alarms among Mariana Trench communities

Elizabeth Claire Alberts 10 Dec 2025

Norway pauses deep-sea mining for four years

Elizabeth Claire Alberts 8 Dec 2025
Ofelia Samboni an Indigenous Yanacona member and landowner in Monclart, holds a stone containing copper. The stone was found in the river close to the mining area. Image by Antonio Cascio for Mongabay.

‘Clean energy is just one driver of mining’: Cleodie Rickard on critical minerals

Aimee Gabay 13 Nov 2025

Expedition charts Cook Islands seafloor, amid scrutiny over mining motives

Elizabeth Claire Alberts 6 Nov 2025

On first International Day of the Deep Seabed, we seek stewardship and consensus (commentary)

Leticia Carvalho 30 Oct 2025
A manta ray in the Indian Ocean.

Mining the deep-sea could further threaten endangered sharks and rays

Elizabeth Claire Alberts 20 Oct 2025
An oceanic white tip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus) with pilot fish (Naucrates ductor). Image courtesy of Renata Romeo/Ocean Image Bank.

‘Super big deal’: High seas treaty reaches enough ratifications to become law

Edward Carver 23 Sep 2025
Equipment used in deep-sea mining. Photo by Richard Baron/The Metals Company

Deep-sea mining is a false solution to our challenges (commentary)

Pradeep Singh 19 Aug 2025
Banner image of a remotely operated vehicle KIEL 6000 holding a manganese nodule in the sought-after Clarion-Clipperton Zone by the ROV-Team/GEOMAR via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0).

UN meeting closes with no moratorium on deep-sea mining; groups lament

Kristine Sabillo 1 Aug 2025

A sales-pitch pivot brings deep-sea mining closer to reality

Elizabeth Claire Alberts 31 Jul 2025

Challenges persist in TMC’s bid to mine the deep sea, even after boost from Trump

Elizabeth Claire Alberts 24 Jul 2025

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