Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica, Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith.

Deep-sea mining press briefing: International Seabed Authority Council Meeting

From March 17 -28, 2025, governments will convene at the International Seabed Authority (ISA) Council meeting in Kingston, Jamaica to continue to negotiate a Mining Code for deep-sea mining, that if adopted, would open up our ocean to the largest mining operation humanity has ever seen.

The DSCC and our partner and member organizations will be present in Kingston, urging governments to apply the precautionary principle by adopting a moratorium on deep-sea mining until a number of conditions are fulfilled. 

2025 is a pivotal year for the health of our ocean and the future of the deep sea. This year marks the start of a fresh chapter for the ISA under the leadership of the new Secretary General, Ms. Leticia Carvalho. Deep-sea mining is now recognized as a major emerging threat with potentially grave consequences for marine biodiversity, climate regulation, the economies of terrestrial mining States, and the preservation of underwater cultural heritage. Despite the groundswell against deep-sea mining, The Metals Company (TMC) announced its intention to apply for a Plan of Work on 27th June 2025, in order to proceed with exploitation, which, if approved by the ISA, would result in mining the Pacific Ocean in a scientific and regulatory vacuum.

Left: A deep-sea coral garden in Madison-Swanson Marine Reserve off the west coast of Florida ©NOAA. Right: Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology

Meanwhile, the industry as a whole is placing unacceptable pressure on governments to adopt a Mining Code at the ISA. This is despite the alarms raised by the international scientific community of permanent and irreversible impacts of deep-sea mining, and the vast knowledge gaps that remain.

Join the DSCC and its members for a key media briefing ahead of the negotiations where panelists will explore the upcoming negotiations, the status of the moratorium campaign, issues surrounding the emerging industry and answer key questions.

Source:  Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC)

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