The seabed, in the news
We track deep-sea-mining reporting worldwide and surface what bears on American Sāmoa first. Filter by where the story lands.
Judge Rejects Delay, Keeps American Samoa mining Lawsuit on Track Before Sale
A federal judge in Honolulu has refused to let the Trump administration delay a hearing that could decide whether a deep-sea mining lease sale off American Samoa broke federal law, leaving open the chance that a court could block the sale before it happens.
Read at source- samoaobserver.wsSep 19, 2026
Samoa Observer | US deep-sea mining permits could come within months
The Cook Islands has allowed exploration for polymetallic nodules, but commercial extraction has not been approved. Topics Environment By Tautua Vaa • 19 September 2026, 8:30PM ### Trending Stories PREMIUM SWA driver jailed over fatal crash Samoa Court SWA driver jailed over fatal crash A Samoa Water Authority employee who fell asleep at the wheel and caused a crash t... By Sulamanaia Manaui Faulalo • 19 September 2026, 8:00AM [...] American Samoa Governor Pulaali‘i Nikolao Pula has since said the territory does not support commercial deep-sea mineral extraction at this time, and called for any initial work to focus on scientific research, environmental studies, mapping and monitoring. The American Samoa proposal is smaller than the Marianas proposal, but it covers a large stretch of the Pacific seabed and is already moving toward a potential lease sale. [...] Home / Samoa / # US deep-sea mining permits could come within months Samoa Environment By Tautua Vaa • 19 September 2026, 8:30PM The United States could begin issuing deep-sea mining permits within months, as the Trump administration moves ahead with plans for seabed mining in federal waters in the Pacific.
- legaldesire.comSep 18, 2026
Ocean Resources and Who Owns Them? An Overview of Deep-Sea Mining, International Law and the Emerging Legal and Environmental Conflict.
The environmental challenge is potentially greater at vent systems than in PMN fields because of the limited data on recovery after industrial disturbances. An environmental review in 2026 noted that exploration of PMS deposits has been relatively limited, and the recovery cannot be understood.d For some vent ecosystems, the loss of biodiversity due to mining can be very serious. [...] Deep-sea mining engenders a great deal of tension between resource extraction and environmental protection.UNCLOS is not just an economic treaty. Article 145 gives specific directions for the effective protection of the marine environment from the harmful effects of activities in the area. The major environmental problems are: habitat destruction; sediment plumes; biodiversity loss; and noise, light and physical disturbance. [...] Importantly, scientific research after industrial-scale testing has shown that ecosystem impacts cannot be assumed to disappear after mining equipment is removed from the site. A 2025 Nature Ecology & Evolution study of the 2022 industrial mining test found a 37% decrease in macrofaunal density and a 32% reduction in species richness directly within mining tracks two months after the test.
- thehindu.comSep 18, 2026
Balancing deep-sea discovery with environmental stewardship
Under the Deep Ocean Mission, India is developing deep-sea mining technology, underwater robotics and the MATSYA-6000 human submersible, while the National Institute of Ocean Technology has tested a mining machine at depths of about 5,270 metres. At the same time, biodiversity surveys across 19 seamounts have studied around 1,300 deep-sea organisms, including nearly 23 species reported as new to science. These achievements also impose a profound responsibility to decide whether technological [...] India is not new to seabed mineral exploration and holds three International Seabed Authority (ISA) exploration contracts covering approximately 95,000 square kilometres across the Central Indian Ocean Basin, Central Indian Ridge and Carlsberg Ridge in the international seabed area. Its exploration has identified an estimated 366 million tonnes of polymetallic nodules containing nickel, copper, cobalt and manganese, alongside extensive environmental and biodiversity studies. [...] ## Related Stories Explained | What is deep sea mining and what are the concerns related to the industry? / science and technology / minerals (general) / environmental issues / mining / science (general) / renewable energy / Electric vehicles / manufacturing and engineering / recycling / economy (general) / Climate mitigation / nature 0 / 0 The Hindu Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
- samoanews.comSep 16, 2026
Interior Secretary says US deep-sea mining permits could come ...
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said on September 14, 2026 that the United States could issue deep-sea mining permits within months. International Seabed
- samoaobserver.wsSep 15, 2026
Samoa Observer | American Samoa Governor’s deep-sea mining review
The proposal covers more than 31 million acres of federal waters east of Taʻū, one of the Manuʻa Islands, divided into two areas for potential deep-sea mining. A lease sale is proposed for 19 November, with minimum bids of US$3 million for each lease area. The seabed is believed to contain polymetallic nodules rich in minerals the U.S. government classifies as “critical minerals” used in electric vehicles, electronics and defence technologies. [...] The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a U.S. government agency responsible for studying the oceans and atmosphere, began a 29-day deep-sea mapping expedition around American Samoa. The expedition, which began on August 20 is studying marine habitats and critical minerals, including areas where polymetallic nodules may occur. Researchers recently found a polymetallic nodule field, with nodules measuring up to 15 centimetres across during two dives. [...] American Samoa Governor Pulaali’i Nikolao Pula was given 60 days to review and comment on a proposed leasing notice, according to a statement from the American Samoa Government on 17 July. Pula raised concerns over potential environmental impacts from deep-sea mining, particularly on American Samoa’s tuna industry and other important sectors, and called for any development to be transparent, science-based and carefully managed.
- news.ssbcrack.comSep 13, 2026
Ocean Floor Off American Samoa Sparking Debate Over EV Battery Metals Mining - SSBCrack News
The ocean floor off American Samoa is emerging as a focal point in the ongoing debate on resource mining, particularly as the demand for essential metals for electric vehicle (EV) batteries continues to grow. Recent research conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has revealed significant findings from the depths of the Pacific Ocean, where a 10-inch sampling square was deployed nearly 17,000 feet underwater. This venture uncovered polymetallic nodules rich in [...] nodules on the seafloor. This method could potentially revolutionize how deep-sea mining is conducted, making it possible to gather information without having to deploy heavy, costly equipment for extended periods. [...] NOAA emphasizes the importance of this research as part of a broader initiative aimed at offshore critical mineral exploration in areas designated under U.S. law. Despite the promise these underwater deposits hold, many of the dives occur in zones where deep-sea mining is currently prohibited, including within the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. This regulatory landscape suggests a cautious approach to potential future harvesting of these resources, emphasizing the need for
- guampdn.comSep 10, 2026
Lawsuits challenge deep-sea mining in Marianas, American Samoa; CNMI delegate seeks revenues | News | guampdn.com
“Deep-sea mining threatens irreversible damage to our ocean, our environment and the communities and cultures that depend on it. Once that damage is done, we cannot undo it,” Arriola said. The complaint asserts that deep-sea mining entails using heavy machinery, which can destroy nearly all life in its path, to scour the seabed for potato-sized mineral aggregations (polymetallic nodules) or to strip mine mineral-laden crusts from the seafloor. [...] “Critical minerals are at the center of America’s economic competitiveness and national security. While I do not support or oppose seabed mining, we must recognize the nation’s strategic imperative to develop secure critical mineral supply chains. If seabed mining offshore our communities occurs, PACMESA would provide a crucial insurance policy for the Pacific territories that could be directly affected,” King-Hinds said. #### Just The Facts [...] On Tuesday, CNMI Delegate Kimberlyn King-Hinds also introduced H.R. 10318, or the Pacific Minerals Economic Security Act, to amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to enhance the economic security of Pacific territories adjacent to seabed mining through revenue sharing and for other purposes.
- samoaobserver.wsSep 10, 2026
Samoa Observer | Deep-sea exploration finds polymetallic nodule field
The discovery comes as the U.S. government moves towards a potential seabed mineral lease sale in waters around American Samoa, where polymetallic nodules are being considered as a potential source of critical minerals including nickel, copper, cobalt and manganese. [...] An anemone was also seen attached to a polymetallic nodule, using it as a hard surface on the seabed. The findings are part of NOAA's 2026 American Samoa ROV and Mapping Exploration, which is focused on mapping and studying deepwater areas around the territory. NOAA said its research provides data that can help identify mineral-rich areas and assess seabed resources. [...] The data collected by its expeditions can help inform decisions about the management of marine resources, including critical minerals. American Samoa Governor Pulaali’i Nikolao Pula has urged the territory to wait for scientific research before any decision is made on deep-sea mining, saying he was waiting for research being carried out by NOAA and other U.S. agencies. The NOAA expedition is still ongoing, with the exploration scheduled to continue until 17 September. Topics Environment
- oceana.orgSep 9, 2026
Who Owns the Ocean? Ocean Governance Explained | Oceana
## How can you help protect the ocean? Oceana has already helped protect more than 4 million square miles (10 million square kilometers) of ocean habitat by securing marine protected areas, no-take zones, and restrictions on destructive fishing practices such as bottom trawling. Oceana is campaigning to prevent deep-sea mining while advocating for stronger protections for marine ecosystems around the world. [...] Deep-sea mining is another challenge. Under UNCLOS, the International Seabed Authority oversees mining in international waters. Countries can decide whether to allow deep-sea mining within their own EEZs, but they need the ISA’s approval to do so on the high seas. To date, no commercial mining has been approved by the ISA in international waters, though the agency has granted exploration permits for companies and countries to study and assess potential seabed mineral deposits. [...] But there has been progress. In January 2026, the High Seas Treaty entered into force, creating the first global framework for protecting marine biodiversity in international waters. The Treaty creates a legal process to establish marine protected areas on the high seas and conduct environmental impact assessments for activities in international waters. It also creates mechanisms for countries to share the resources found in the high seas more equitably.
- news.bloomberglaw.comSep 8, 2026
US Deep-Sea Mining Push Ventures into Legal ‘Uncharted Waters’ - Bloomberg Law News
# US Deep-Sea Mining Push Ventures into Legal ‘Uncharted Waters’. 8, 2026, 9:35 AM UTC. Plans by the US to mine the sea floor to boost the domestic critical minerals supply are on a collision course with international law, creating uncertainty for companies involved in future projects. The dispute stems from the 1980 Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act, or DSHMRA, which the Trump administration revived to fulfill an executive order directing federal agencies to fast-track seabed mineral exploration and commercial mining leases. President Donald Trump’s April 2025 executive order instructs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to expedite the review process for commercial permits and ... ## Learn more about Bloomberg Law or Log In to keep reading:. ### See Breaking News in Context. Bloomberg Law provides trusted coverage of current events enhanced with legal analysis. Log in to keep reading or access research tools and resources. © 2026 Bloomberg Industry Group, Inc.
- sciencealert.comSep 7, 2026
Scientists Accidentally Caused a Methane Leak Beneath The South China Sea. Ocean Life Sealed It Almost Instantly. - ScienceAlert
# Scientists Accidentally Caused a Methane Leak Beneath The South China Sea. Ocean Life Sealed It Almost Instantly. In 2018, Chinese geologists created a methane leak in the South China Sea. They were trying to figure out how much natural gas might exist in marine sediments, so they drilled a hole in the seafloor, as part of their work for the government-owned China Geological Survey. A year later, a plume of methane gas had shot up from the deep, rising more than a kilometer high into the water column. This one was chewing through nearly as much methane in a fraction of the time. Seafloor sediments are home to Earth's largest reservoir of methane, and natural cracks in the ocean floor allow some of that gas to seep out. What isn't clear just yet is how much of that methane makes it out of the ocean and into the atmosphere.
- upriseri.comSep 6, 2026
Trump Seabed Mining Push in Atlantic Raises RI Concerns - Uprise RI
license and a commercial-recovery permit, with public comment open through October 19. The United States is not a party to the Law of the Sea Convention, which means it does not answer to the International Seabed Authority that regulates deep-seabed mining for the countries that are. [...] But the same page also names the target. The principal Atlantic deposits under consideration are heavy-mineral sands and phosphorites, and BOEM says extraction, if ultimately approved, would likely involve hopper dredging followed by onshore mineral separation and processing. This is not the robotic vacuuming of polymetallic nodules from the abyssal Pacific that has dominated the international debate over deep-sea mining. It is closer to industrial-scale dredging of the continental shelf – a [...] And in the Pacific, the administration has moved further still. On July 17, BOEM published a proposed leasing notice for a mineral lease sale offshore American Samoa, proposing to hold the sale on November 19 – which would make it the first deep-sea mining lease sale in U.S. waters. On August 18, two community groups, Fa'asao Amerika Samoa and the Conservation Council for Hawai'i, represented by Earthjustice, filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii under the
- csis.orgSep 3, 2026
The Pacific Is Ground Zero for Deep-Sea Mining
As interest in DSM has grown, so have concerns over potentially devasting environmental effects, including the potential for direct ecological damage, reductions in biodiversity, and changes to the structure and function of ecosystems caused by new and relatively untested methods of extracting minerals from the deep ocean floor. There is also the potential for severe impacts on fisheries and coastal communities because of reductions in fish stocks and damage to marine habitats. Another risk is [...] are many risks, however, the extent to which any one of these factors—or multiple factors compounded in one area—will actually affect marine ecosystems remains unclear. This is due both to insufficient knowledge of deep-sea ecosystems and to gaps in understanding of the full extent of the impacts of DSM on these ecosystems. [...] Another risk is ocean noise pollution, whereby mining itself introduces unnatural and excessive sounds that can disrupt the natural behavior of marine life in a way interferes with migration and reproduction. Mining activities also discharge waste plumes, introducing nutrient-poor sediment into the water that could starve zooplankton and micronekton and affect larger food chains. The release of carbon could also weaken the ocean’s ability to moderate temperatures. While there are many risks,
- facebook.comSep 3, 2026
Mining legislation moving through Congress → Offshore mineral ...
In the summer of 2025, they will work to finalize regulations to determine if and how countries can engage in deep-sea mining in international waters.
- eurasiareview.comSep 1, 2026
Seabed Mining On The U.S. Outer Continental Shelf: Recent Developments – Analysis
By Caitlin Keating-Bitonti and Laura B. Comay. Key Takeaways: EO 14285 (April 2025) and OCSLA give Interior/BOEM (now merging into a Marine Minerals
- techtimes.comSep 1, 2026
America's First Deep-Sea Mining Lease Targets American Samoa's Uncharted Seafloor
Polymetallic nodules are mineral formations that grow on the abyssal seafloor at the pace of less than 4 millimeters per million years, accreting manganese, iron oxides, cobalt, nickel, and copper around a nucleus — typically a shark tooth or shell fragment. American Samoa's waters are believed to hold among richest nodule deposits in the entire U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. These metals are essential to electric vehicle batteries, defense electronics, and clean-energy infrastructure. The Trump [...] The deep seafloor here is believed to be among the richest sites for polymetallic nodules in the entire U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone — potato-sized mineral formations containing nickel, cobalt, manganese, and copper that are central to battery technology and the broader clean-energy supply chain. Despite that geological significance, American Samoa's deep waters sat almost entirely uncharted while the international community spent years focusing on the Clarion-Clipperton Zone in international [...] Katlin Bowman Adamczyk, Ph.D., is a marine geochemist and oceanographer with the U.S. Geological Survey's Global Seabed Mineral Resources group in Santa Cruz, California. She has participated in more than 20 expeditions globally — including a 65-day voyage to the North Pole — and has been a National Geographic Explorer since 2018. Her focus here centers on the geological and geochemical characterization of the seafloor, including the polymetallic nodule assessment work that will be the primary
- Modern DiplomacyAug 30, 2026
Nauru Built the Only Door Into Deep-Sea Mining — Washington Just Opened a Second One
On 19 November, the United States plans to auction two seabed blocks off American Samoa — more than 31 million acres combined — for a minimum bid of $3 million apiece, live-streamed from a federal office in California. No exploration contract. No sponsoring state. No International Seabed Authority. Just a federal lease, issued under a domestic mining law from 1980, for the same kind of polymetallic nodules that Nauru spent a decade building an entire national strategy around controlling. [...] Upside case: Washington’s aggressiveness becomes the shock that forces Pacific coordination the ISA process never did — a nodule-mining equivalent of the tuna-licensing bloc, in which Pacific states, moratorium and pro-mining camps alike, set one common floor for environmental standards and revenue share that any company must meet regardless of which regulator it uses. The plausible trigger is reputational rather than legal: a botched, under-consulted auction like American Samoa’s becoming a [...] This would matter less if Pacific states could bargain as a bloc, the way they already do on tuna: the Parties to the Nauru Agreement pool access to skipjack stocks and have pushed collective licensing revenue from about $60 million a year in 2010 to roughly $500 million now. No equivalent exists for seabed minerals. The Pacific Islands Forum is instead split down the middle — Nauru, Tonga, Cook Islands and Kiribati see nodules as fiscal necessity; Palau, Fiji, Samoa, the Marshall Islands,
- congress.govAug 28, 2026
Seabed Mining on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf: Recent Developments
BOEM's roles have included evaluating the OCS for mineral resources and leasing submerged lands for mineral development. Pursuant to the OCSLA, BOEM has issued regulations (30 C.F.R. §§580-582) addressing leasing for non-energy marine minerals. EO 14285 directed the Secretary of the Interior to "identify which critical minerals may be derived from seabed resources" and to "establish an expedited process for reviewing and approving permits for prospecting and granting leases for exploration, [...] for exploration, development, and production of seabed mineral resources" consistent with applicable law, among other actions. In June 2025, DOI announced that BOEM and BSEE were "updating [critical mineral] policies across all stages of development" to "reduce delays, improve coordination and provide greater certainty for industry, all while upholding key environmental safeguards." On February 24, 2026, BOEM published a proposed rule to make "administrative revisions" to its mineral leasing [...] of the U.S. OCS for the development of offshore energy and non-energy marine minerals, including critical minerals. (This authority is separate from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's authority over U.S. seabed mining in areas beyond U.S. jurisdiction.) DOI's authority has been exercised by its Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). BOEM and its sister agency, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), are being merged into a new DOI Marine Minerals
- yahoo.comAug 27, 2026
American Samoa deep-sea mining sale cleared without endangered species analysis, lawsuit alleges
"The United States has never opened its waters to deep-sea mining. Until now."
- theguardian.comAug 26, 2026
Trump’s deep-sea mining plan flouts international law | Letter - The Guardian
# Trump’s deep-sea mining plan flouts international law. Britain and other signatories to the UN convention on the law of the sea should protest against US proposal to lease seabed for mining, says **Guy Standing**. Your article on Donald Trump’s plan to lease millions of hectares of seabed in the Pacific for deep-sea mining correctly points to the ecological disaster that this could unleash (US territories hit out at Trump plan to explore deep sea mining in the Pacific, 24 August). However, it does not mention that this plan contravenes international law in the form of Unclos, the UN convention on the law of the sea, which has been ratified by 171 countries and the European Union. The US has not ratified it, but since 1982 has agreed to abide by its rules and procedures. Under Unclos, no deep-sea mining may be undertaken until an international code on environmental assessments has been agreed and, crucially, an international agreement has been reached on sharing the economic benefits among all countries.
- americanprogress.orgAug 26, 2026
Deep-Sea Mining Is a Dangerous Experiment
Several types of seabed mining have been proposed across the United States, including the mining of polymetallic nodules, mineral-rich crusts of volcanic seamounts, rocky mounds near hydrothermal vents, and mineral-heavy sands. In American Samoa, companies are looking to recover polymetallic nodules, potato-sized rocks found on the deep-sea floor that take millions of years to form and contain critical minerals such as manganese, copper, cobalt, and nickel. [...] In addition to recovery, processing and refining seabed nodules at scale poses another challenge to any company pursuing deep-sea mining, according to thereport. Although nodule processing through smelting-refining or pressure acid leaching may be viable, the ultimate recovery rates of valuable products remain uncertain, and there are currently no established processing routes or facilities that can process a seabed nodule through to a finished product. Additionally, nodules retain several [...] According to the seabed mining report, mining companies have proposed two different methods to recover nodules from the deep sea. One method, referred to here as “the vacuum,” would deploy a tethered seabed crawler, roughly the size of a bulldozer, with a vertical riser pipe that lifts—or vacuums—nodules, bringing them to a surface vessel. This design is technically feasible, but its sustained commercial viability is questionable—it requires energy-intensive operations and high vessel capital
- news.mongabay.comAug 26, 2026
Scientists discover 149 new deep-sea species at remote Indian Ocean seamounts
As oceans face threats from climate change, including rising surface ocean temperatures, marine heatwaves, overfishing and deep-sea mining — which all impact benthic ecosystems — deep-sea research remains important, according to O’Hara and Barry. [...] #### Topics AnimalsBiodiversityConservationDeep SeaDeep Sea MiningEcosystemsEnvironmentFishFisheriesFishingHealthMammalsMarineMarine AnimalsMarine ConservationMiningNatural ResourcesOcean WarmingOceansOverfishingPollutionResearchSaltwater FishScienceSharksWater PollutionWildlifeAustraliaChristmas IslandGlobalIndian OceanOceania # Guinea’s Iron Frontier The Nimba mountain range as seen from southern Guinea. Image by Maarten van der Bent via Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0). [...] Researchers from institutions in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the U.S. surveyed the seafloor down to 5,431 meters (17,818 feet), where conditions are cold, dark and high-pressure with limited food options for benthic species. Deep-sea research is notoriously challenging, but scientists stress the importance of exploring these ecosystems as they face growing threats from warming oceans, pollution, overfishing and deep-sea mining.
- hawaiipublicradio.orgAug 25, 2026
Pacific News Minute: Earthjustice sues to ban deep-sea mining in American Samoa
A legal environmental team is working with a group in Hawaiʻi to sue the U.S. government over an issue in the Pacific Islands. They want to stop the Trump
- theguardian.comAug 25, 2026
US territories hit out at Trump plan to explore deep sea mining in the Pacific
US agency releases plan to lease millions of hectares of seabed off the coast of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam.
- phys.orgAug 25, 2026
Namibia paves way for phosphate mining in the Atlantic Ocean
## Toxins, fish Sediment plumes generated by seabed excavation and processing pose significant risks to ecosystems and public health, said marine scientist Bronwen Currie. Underwater dredging risks releasing heavy metals and toxic substances trapped deep in the seabed, which could enter the marine food chain and jeopardize commercial fish stocks, she told AFP. [...] Deep-sea mining seeks to tap previously untouched seabed deposits of a range of commodities, including cobalt and nickel, but the fledgling industry has long been stalled by environmental concerns. The government certificate issued this month is the next step in plans by Namibian Marine Phosphate (NMP) to dredge the ocean floor around 120 kilometers (75 miles) off the town of Walvis Bay for the key ingredient of fertilizers vital to agriculture. [...] ##### Race to name creatures of the deep as mining interest grows Future of deep-sea mining stands at a crucial juncture ##### Future of deep-sea mining stands at a crucial juncture Plans for deep seabed mining pit renewable energy demand against ocean life in a largely unexplored frontier ##### Plans for deep seabed mining pit renewable energy demand against ocean life in a largely unexplored frontier Norway greenlights deep-sea mining exploration
- france24.comAug 25, 2026
Namibia paves way for phosphate mining in the Atlantic Ocean - France 24
# Namibia paves way for phosphate mining in the Atlantic Ocean. Windhoek (AFP) – Namibia has granted environmental clearance for an offshore phosphate mining project that paves the way for the world's first commercial seabed-dredging operation for the mineral, despite opposition from green groups and the fishing industry. Deep-sea mining seeks to tap previously untouched seabed deposits of a range of commodities, including cobalt and nickel, but the fledgling industry has long been stalled by environmental concerns. The government certificate issued this month is the next step in plans by Namibian Marine Phosphate (NMP) to dredge the ocean floor around 120 kilometres (75 miles) off the town of Walvis Bay for the key ingredient of fertilisers vital to agriculture. The group was given a licence in 2011 but came to a standstill in 2013 over concerns about the impact on marine ecosystems and Namibia's multi-million-dollar commercial fishing industry.
- fox26medford.comAug 25, 2026
Namibia paves way for phosphate mining in the Atlantic Ocean - KMVU FOX 26 Medford
Namibia has granted environmental clearance for an offshore phosphate mining project that paves the way for the world's first commercial seabed-dredging operation for the mineral, despite opposition from green groups and the fishing industry. The government certificate issued this month is the next step in plans by Namibian Marine Phosphate (NMP) to dredge the ocean floor around 120 kilometres (75 miles) off the town of Walvis Bay for the key ingredient of fertilisers vital to agriculture. Over the 20-year licence period, this would represent the equivalent of 0.002 percent of Namibia's seabed, it said after the clearance was announced. The group was given a licence in 2011 but came to a standstill in 2013 over concerns about the impact on marine ecosystems and Namibia's multi-million-dollar commercial fishing industry. Namibia has granted environmental clearance for an offshore phosphate mining project that paves the way for the world's first commercial seabed-dredging operation for the mineral, despite oppo… Read MoreNamibia paves way for phosphate mining in the Atlantic Ocean.
- ua.newsAug 24, 2026
Northern Mariana Islands and Guam criticize US deep-sea plan
Authorities in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands have criticized U.S. plans to lease 28 million hectares of seabed for deep-sea mineral exploration, citing environmental risks, insufficient scientific research, and concerns over limited local consultation. The proposal follows similar plans to lease 12.4 million hectares near American Samoa, where Governor Pula Nikolao has expressed opposition over potential harm to marine ecosystems and the tuna industry. On August 19, environmental groups from American Samoa and Hawaii filed legal action seeking to halt the proposed lease auction, arguing that federal agencies had not adequately assessed the environmental impacts.
- mauinews.comAug 23, 2026
Nonprofit sues over US push to auction areas of water around American Samoa for potential mining
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A legal environmental group sued the U.S. government on Tuesday to halt the Trump administration's plans announced last month to
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