As negotiations to establish rules for commercial deep-sea mining in international waters resume this week at the International Seabed Authority (ISA), African countries find themselves in a pivotal position to influence both the industry’s future and the health of marine ecosystems. The ISA, a UN-affiliated body formed in the 1990s, was designed to ensure that developing nations benefit from deep-sea mining, aiming to provide equity in the utilization of global commons.
Advocates of deep-sea mining argue that the industry holds the potential for substantial financial gains from the rich mineral deposits found in the deep ocean. African nations, through the ISA’s evolving financial and royalty mechanisms, could secure significant economic benefits if they choose to support the industry. However, this opportunity comes with considerable risks and challenges.
Research reveals a complex landscape of potential risks and rewards associated with deep-sea mining. While private companies and sponsoring countries may profit in the short term, the environmental costs could be severe. Evidence suggests that mining operations could cause irreversible damage to fragile seafloor habitats. Activities such as sediment plume discharge can disrupt light penetration, oxygenation levels, and spread toxins and radioactivity. The potential ecological damage could exceed $2 trillion, the current global defense budget, highlighting the severe long-term risks involved.
Moreover, the business model of deep-sea mining faces uncertainties. Risks include potential litigation, technological challenges, and volatile market conditions. New data emphasizes the need to account for the true cost of environmental damage, especially as the world grapples with climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
Fortunately, advancements in technology, resource-efficient processes, circular economy models, and responsible mining practices offer alternatives that could reduce or eliminate the need for deep-sea mining. Proven technologies could potentially decrease the demand for critical minerals by up to 58%, presenting viable alternatives to underwater resource extraction.
Additionally, an increase in supply from deep-sea mining could negatively impact land-based mining sectors, potentially lowering market prices and diminishing profits. This situation underscores the need for an equitable compensation mechanism and highlights the broader responsibilities of regulatory bodies like the ISA to ensure fair and sustainable practices.
In response to these concerns, a growing international coalition—including nations like Fiji, Mexico, Palau, Canada, Brazil, and Sweden, along with conservation organizations, financial entities, and business leaders—is advocating for a moratorium or precautionary pause on deep-sea mining. This call for a pause aims to allow time for comprehensive scientific research to assess the environmental impact and risks to deep-sea ecosystems.
Currently, no African countries have endorsed a moratorium or precautionary pause, despite the significant implications of deep-sea mining for the continent. African nations must carefully consider the trade-offs between potential short-term economic benefits and long-term ecological damage. The minerals on the international seafloor are considered the common heritage of humankind, raising ethical questions about our collective responsibilities.
The choices made today will have lasting effects on the health of our oceans and the wellbeing of future generations. As the debate continues, it is crucial for African countries to voice their perspectives and actively engage in shaping the regulations that will govern deep-sea mining. The future of our planet and the preservation of its marine ecosystems depend on the decisions made in these critical negotiations.
