Deep-sea minerals are found in the depths of the ocean, thousands of meters below the surface in the seabed. Deep-sea mining has not yet occurred in international areas – those areas where no one state has jurisdiction, but where international cooperation is needed. The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is responsible for administration of mineral resources of the international ocean floor – the “Area”.
States regularly meet in the headquarters of the ISA to negotiate rules and regulations under what conditions deep-sea mining could be allowed, which environmental standards would have to be followed and how to ensure that everyone benefits from potential mining activities. Not an easy task – therefore this episode introduces the topic of deep-sea mining and the work of the ISA. Timely with the negotiation schedule, this episode summarises the current state of the negotiations and which questions remain for the upcoming meetings.
- What does the International Seabed Authority do?
- How can potential benefits from deep-seabed minerals be equitably shared?
- What is the current state of the negotiations at the ISA?
- What does the new US executive order regarding deep-sea mining entail?
- And how does the International Seabed Authority relate to the new Agreement for Biodiversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ)?
Guests: Aline Jaeckel (ANCORS) and Pradeep Singh (Ozeano Azul Foundation)
Hosts: Ina Tessnow-von Wysocki & Jennifer Macey
Sound design and editing: Emily Perkins
Communication: Sunnefa Yeatman
ANCORS literature on Deep-Seabed Mining
Singh, P. A., Jaeckel, A., & Ardron, J. A. (2025). APause or Moratorium for Deep Seabed Mining in the Area? The Legal Basis, Potential Pathways, and Possible Policy Implications. Ocean Development & International Law, 56(1), 18–44. https://doi.org/10.1080/00908320.2024.2439877
Singh P, Jaeckel A. Undermining by Mining? Deep SeabedMining in Light of International Marine Environmental Law. AJIL Unbound. 2024;118:72-77. doi:10.1017/aju.2024.8
Jaeckel, A., Harden-Davies, H., Amon, D.J. et al. Deepseabed mining lacks social legitimacy. npj Ocean Sustain 2,1 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44183-023-00009-7
Jaeckel, A. L. (05 Jan. 2017). The International SeabedAuthority and the Precautionary Principle. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill | Nijhoff. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004332287
More Information about Deep-sea Mining
International Seabed Authority Website
Oceano Azul Foundation Website
Follow the negotiations live on the official ISA Web TV:
Council (23 June – 4 July 2025)
Assembly (21 – 25 July 2025)
For comments & feedback please contact: inatvw@uow.edu.au
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