Controversial Seabed Mining
US Prepares to Authorize Large Deep-Sea Mining Project in International Waters
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The United States is preparing to become the first country to authorize deep-sea mining in international waters it does not own. The Metals Company (TMC) applied for a commercial recovery permit in January 2026, and Reuters reported that NOAA found the application in "substantial compliance" with U.S. law by March 9 — a first-of-its-kind regulatory milestone.
The target is the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), a stretch of the Pacific Ocean roughly the size of the continental United States. Under international law, this area belongs to no single nation. It is legally defined as the "common heritage of mankind." The U.S. is moving anyway.
Trump Signs Order to Fast-Track Seabed Mining Permits
On April 24, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14285, directing agencies to speed up permits for deep-sea mining in both U.S. and international waters, according to NOAA National Ocean Service. Trump framed the push as essential, calling seabed minerals "vital to America's future prosperity and trade independence from China."
The administration revived the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (DSHMRA) of 1980 — a dormant Cold War-era law — to give U.S. companies a domestic legal basis to mine international waters. By May 2026, NOAA had also certified TMC's "USA B" exploration license, expanding its footprint by 122,000 km² in the CCZ — an area roughly the size of Mississippi, according to The Motley Fool.
The CCZ Holds Billions in Minerals — and Legal Landmines
The Clarion-Clipperton Zone holds an estimated 619 million tonnes of wet polymetallic nodules, packed with nickel, cobalt, and manganese. TMC values its combined assets at a net present value of $23.6 billion, according to Mining.com. These minerals are critical for electric vehicle batteries and defense technology.
The problem: the CCZ falls under the jurisdiction of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the UN body that regulates international seabed resources. The U.S. never ratified the UN Law of the Sea Convention (UNCLOS), so it does not recognize the ISA's authority. Critics say Washington is exploiting that gap to jump the queue. ISA Secretary-General Leticia Carvalho has called the U.S. efforts "unlawful activity" and warned of a "blizzard of litigation."
Europe Calls It Illegal, Industry Calls It Green
The European Parliament passed a resolution calling U.S. plans "unlawful" and urging a full moratorium, according to El Periódico. France, Germany, and the UK have all expressed "grave concern." The G7 Summit in Evian, France — projected for June 15-17, 2026 — is expected to put the U.S. on the spot over its go-it-alone approach.
TMC CEO Gerard Barron has pushed back hard. He calls NOAA's process "transparent" and "rules-based," and the company argues deep-sea mining is the "cleanest source of critical base metals" available. Scientists disagree. Environmental researchers warn that sediment plumes and noise from seabed operations will cause permanent damage to ecosystems that have evolved over millions of years.
Financial Risk Is High Despite Regulatory Progress
Despite the regulatory wins, TMC is not yet a profitable company. It reported a net loss of $320 million in 2025, according to Global Mining Review. Investors and legal experts say "bankability" remains a major challenge. Without stable international recognition of its permits, banks and insurers may refuse to back the project.
A second company, Deep Sea Minerals Corp, received its own NOAA compliance determination on June 3, 2026, signaling that the U.S. pipeline is expanding fast. Experts warn that if U.S.-mined minerals reach global markets, they could face seizure or boycotts from countries that still follow ISA rules. The final Environmental Impact Statement from NOAA is expected in late 2026 — and is likely to trigger the first round of lawsuits.
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