This month, during a week-long session of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), attempts to impose a global moratorium on deep-sea mining did not succeed. Opponents of deep-sea extraction failed to make progress toward stopping the activity. The ISA session took place as a Nauru-backed company announced plans for operations in the Pacific.
On Tuesday, the company said it intends to proceed with controversial deep-sea mining and aims to begin in 2026. The contract involves NORI (Nauru Ocean Resources Inc.), a subsidiary of Canada’s The Metals Company. The announcement was made despite ongoing environmental concerns.
Polymetallic nodules in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone and other basins
The ISA says polymetallic nodules are found mainly in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) off the west coast of Mexico. The ISA also cites deposits in the central Indian Ocean and the Peru Basin in the South Pacific. These nodules form over millions of years and are scattered on the seafloor.
The nodules can grow up to 20 centimeters (nearly 8 inches) in size. Experts have compared them to “metal pebbles” or “potatoes.” The ISA estimates that the CCZ holds around 21 billion metric tons of nodules.
According to the ISA, those nodules could contain about 6 billion metric tons of manganese, 270 million metric tons of nickel, and 44 million metric tons of cobalt. The nodules are composed primarily of manganese and iron. They also include strategic minerals such as cobalt, nickel, and copper.
Calls to halt deep-sea mining and competing claims over mineral use
The British Challenger expedition discovered these nodules in the 1870s. At the time, they were not considered a valuable resource. Today, more than 30 countries have called for a halt to deep-sea mining.
The countries mentioned include France, Canada, Chile, Brazil, and the UK. Proponents, including The Metals Company, argue that extracting the nodules could support green technologies. They describe the material as a “battery in a rock,” particularly for electric vehicles.
The Metals Company’s position is disputed by environmental NGOs and scientists. Michael Norton from the European Academies’ Science Advisory Council criticized the claim as misleading. Norton said demand for these minerals could be met through other means.
NORI tests and reported sediment discharge during nodule collection
The ISA regulates multiple deep-sea mining approaches, including hydrothermal vent mining. In contrast, extracting polymetallic nodules does not involve digging or cutting. NORI’s tests in late 2022 involved lowering a collector vehicle to a depth of 4.3 kilometers (about 2.7 miles).
During those tests, NORI gathered and transported nodules while discharging sediment into the water. Catherine Weller, global policy director at Fauna & Flora, said impacts from sediment disturbance and wastewater release are not yet known for the broader ocean ecosystem. She also noted that the unique composition of the nodules makes them important habitat for deep-sea organisms.
Debates over deep-sea mining continue alongside regulatory discussions at the ISA. The future of extraction remains tied to unresolved questions about technological activity and environmental stewardship.