Mongabay12h ago

Why are Chinese deep-sea research vessels navigating around U.S. military territory?

A joint investigation by Elizabeth Claire Alberts and Kara Fox for #Mongabay and #CNN revealed that for the past five years eight deep-sea mining ships traveled on strange patterns outside their designated exploration areas and even went “dark”.

Experts believe these vessels could be serving a military intelligence purpose.

Read the full story. https://mongabay.cc/mgbDSMsm

#News #DeepSeaMining

China’s deep-sea mining fleet may also track US submarines

A Mongabay and CNN investigation found the eight Chinese state-owned ships that conduct deep-sea mining research in China’s mining areas allocated by the International Seabed Authority (ISA) actually spent little time in these exploration areas, while spending much of their remaining time operating in militarily strategic waters. Many of these vessels are linked to the […]

Conservation news
Headlines Africa23h ago
Africa: 'At Africa's First Our Ocean Conference, a Test of Global Will On High Seas Protection and Deep-Sea Mining': [IPS] Victoria, Seychelles -- When the 11th Our Ocean Conference opens in Mombasa and Kilifi, Kenya, from June 16-18, 2026, it will mark the first time this influential meeting has been held on African soil. For coastal and island nations across the continent and the wider Indian Ocean… http://newsfeed.facilit8.network/TRfzlc #OurOceanConference #OceanProtection #DeepSeaMining #Africa #Seychelles
World news | The Guardian1d ago
Tonga PM welcomes US deal to explore deep-sea minerals amid environmental concerns https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/24/tonga-us-deal-deep-sea-minerals-environmental-concern #PacificLeadersInTheirWords #Tonga #DeepseaMining #PacificIslands #Environment #WorldNews #AsiaPacific #UsNews #Mining #Oceans
Tonga PM welcomes US deal to explore deep-sea minerals amid environmental concerns

Exclusive: Pacific island’s new leader Lord Fakafānua discusses ‘exciting’ US partnership as critics fear impacts of seabed exploration

The Guardian
Mongabay1d ago

Deep-sea mining rules face major delays. While the International Seabed Authority aims for a 2024 "mining code," a recent meeting concluded with significant gaps remaining. As the U.S. fast-tracks its own plans, the risk of mining without global oversight grows.

Elizabeth Alberts reports for #Mongabay. https://mongabay.cc/rWiWBQ

#News #DeepSeaMining

Deep-sea mining rules face delays despite urgent push

The UN's deep-sea mining regulator adjourned without a clear timeline for finishing industry rules, even as the U.S. pushes ahead with mining plans under domestic law.

Conservation news
Show threadAndrewMar 9

@Grist @grist-Grist "A range of human activities pose a risk to life in, and the health of, the deep sea. Key among these are deep-sea fishing, the possible start of deep-sea mining, and a range of geoengineering plans proposed as solutions to the climate crisis that could impact deep ocean areas

The principal drivers of threats to the deep sea are the same across all these activities: governments prioritizing exploitation over ocean protection, failure to honor commitments, lack of transparency, and inadequately regulated exploitation and extraction. Many of these problems are rooted in the fundamental flaws of the current global economic model, where short-term gains for the powerful few override longer-term benefits for the many. Both individually and collectively, these failures are allowing and enabling the degradation of vulnerable deep-sea ecosystems."

#DeepSeaMining #OceanProtection #Ocean #Mining #Environment #Conservation

https://deep-sea-conservation.org/

Nick Young Mar 9
Greenpeace International urges governments to defend international law, as evidence suggests breaches by deep sea mining contractors
https://www.greenpeace.org/international/press-release/81977/greenpeace-international-urges-governments-defend-international-law-evidence-suggests-breaches-deep-sea-mining-contractors/?utm_medium=nickofnz&utm_content=postid-81977&utm_source=bluesky
via @greenpeace.org
#StopDeepSeaMining #greenpeace #DeepSeaMining #protecttheoceans
Greenpeace International urges governments to defend international law, as evidence suggests breaches by deep sea mining contractors - Greenpeace International

As the International Seabed Authority (ISA) opens its 31st Session, Greenpeace International is calling on member states to take firm and swift action.

Greenpeace International
revolt_agentFeb 11
2026 : Le Deep Sea Mining devient une réalité réglementaire (NOAA). Alors que les écosystèmes marins sont nos poumons bleus, l'industrie cherche déjà à extraire les nodules polymétalliques pour nourrir la bête technologique. C'est l'asphyxie programmée des grands fonds pour maintenir les privilèges du capital. La mer est un commun, pas une mine. #DeepSeaMining #Ocean #Ecologie #Climat #ReVolt
DoomsdaysCWFeb 7

#DeepSeaMining causes immediate loss of #SeafloorLife

by Eric Ralls, February 5, 2026

"Far below the ocean surface, the deep seafloor is often described as one of the planet’s least disturbed ecosystems. That assumption is now being tested.

"Companies are preparing to mine mineral-rich #nodules scattered across the abyss. The shift raises urgent questions about how quickly damage could appear once #industrial machines begin operating.

"A new field experiment offers one of the clearest answers yet. Researchers found that a single trial of a deep-sea mining collector physically removed more than one-third of the animals and species living directly in its path.

"The results show that biological impacts can occur immediately, not only after years of full-scale extraction."

Read more:
https://www.earth.com/news/deep-sea-mining-machines-could-erase-seafloor-life-in-hours/

#DeepSeaLife #OceansAreLife #WorldPol #NoDeepSeaMining #RecycleMetals #DeepSeaMiningMoratorium #OxygenSource #Extinction #PlanetEarth

Deep-sea mining machines could erase seafloor life in hours

A deep-sea mining test shows ecosystem damage can begin immediately, with more than one-third of seafloor animals lost in a single pass.

Earth.com
DoomsdaysCWFeb 7

It's not enough that #Fukushima #RadioactiveWaterDumping will continue for years (centuries?), now #Japan wants to mine the #DeepSea and kill even more #OceanLife? WTF!

Japan hauls rare earth-rich mud from deep sea in bold test mission

Story by BeckhamLangford
Feburary 3, 2026

"Japan’s own planners acknowledge the uncertainties. Jan briefings on the test mining plan stressed that, However, key aspects remain unknown, including the quality of the minerals and the economics of lifting and processing such vast volumes of mud. Mining the mud had previously been seen as too expensive compared with land-based deposits, and even with new technology, the cost of pumping, dewatering and refining the material at scale is still an open question. Analysts also point out that any move toward commercial production will face intense scrutiny from environmental regulators and coastal communities, who want clearer evidence on how sediment plumes, noise and habitat disruption will affect #DeepOcean #ecosystems around the site."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/japan-hauls-rare-earth-rich-mud-from-deep-sea-in-bold-test-mission/ar-AA1VBa5u

#OceansAreLife #JapanPol #NoDeepSeaMining #NoOceanDumping #FukushimaIsntOver #RecycleMetals #BuildTechnologyThatLasts #OceansAreLife #WaterIsLife #LeaveItInTheOcean #DeepSeaMining
#NoDeepSeaMining #RecycleCopper
#LifeOnEarth #Ecocide #DeepSeaLife #OceansAreLife #PlanetDestroyers #HumanGreed #NoisePollution #SedimentPlumes

MSN

mk30Feb 6

Apparently we're going all in on disastrous seabed mining: "National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) this week finalised new rules designed to fast-track seabed mining permits.

Under the changes, companies will face fewer hurdles, with the number of required environmental assessments and public consultation periods cut in half.

And on top of that, US officials have announced a minerals survey covering some 30,000 square nautical miles off American Samoa." - https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/usa-fast-track-seabed-mining/106286288

It's nearly impossible to know the potential ecological effects of deep sea mining. They are going to be disturbing areas that have *never* experienced such massive intervention from humans....these places are the ocean equivalents of old growth forest. And these are ecosystems where all life processes happen extremely slowly (due to cold, pressure, etc.) - aside from places around gas vents. Plus, it's the ocean, so kicking up loads of dust and mixing things around can potentially affect literally all other parts of the ocean as things get moved around in the water.

We just don't know what effect it might have, at what scale, and with what consequences. But these guys are going full steam ahead to extract.

#ocean #DeepSeaMining #ecology #mining #extraction #USPol #environment

US Government approves rules designed to fast-track seabed mining permits - ABC Pacific

The United States Government's plan to launch deep‑sea mining is showing no signs of slowing down with more than 10 applications received for exploration and extraction licences.

ABC Pacific