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Deep-sea mining targets critical minerals like cobalt and nickel from polymetallic nodules, sulfides, and crusts, primarily in international waters such as the Clarion-Clipperton Zone. While proponents argue it can meet surging demand for the energy transition and avoid some terrestrial mining harms, the practice faces significant opposition due to risks of species extinction, disruption of the ocean's carbon sink, and threats to food security in small island states. Commercial exploitation remains stalled as the International Seabed Authority (ISA) has failed to reach a consensus on regulations as of July 2025, though some companies may attempt to bypass this via U.S. domestic law. Alternatives such as scaling up recycling and shifting to LFP or sodium-ion batteries could reduce the necessity of seabed extraction.

The briefing examines the role of deep sea mining in providing minerals like cobalt, nickel, copper, and manganese for clean energy technologies. It concludes that deep sea mining is unlikely to solve immediate supply crunches because the necessary technology for commercial extraction and processing is not yet available, and the steepest growth in mineral demand is expected before 2035. The document highlights significant environmental risks, regulatory uncertainty surrounding the International Seabed Authority (ISA), and the potential for alternatives such as sustainable land mining, recycling, and material substitution to meet demand.

Earthjustice is calling for a moratorium on deep seabed mining, arguing that the ecological impacts of untested mining technologies on deep-sea ecosystems and the climate are unknown. The organization highlights the risk to Indigenous Pacific Islander communities and supports U.S. legislation, including the International Seabed Protection Act, to prevent mining in American and international waters. Earthjustice advocates for a circular economy based on reducing, reusing, and recycling minerals as a sustainable alternative to deep-sea extraction to meet the demand for clean energy technologies.

A coalition of organizations urges the U.S. government to oppose deep seabed mining, citing grave risks to biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and the rights of Pacific Indigenous communities. The authors call for a moratorium on mining in the U.S. EEZ and international waters, arguing that the International Seabed Authority (ISA) lacks transparent governance and that critical mineral needs should be met through a circular economy rather than seabed extraction.