‘Not worth the risk’: Palau, Fiji call for deep-sea mining moratorium

LISBON: Concerned about the impacts of deep-sea mining on sea biodiversity, the Pacific cycles islands of Palau and Fiji upon Monday (Jun 27) launched an “alliance” to call for an aufschub of the nascent industry.

The particular backing of an aufschub comes amid a wave of global interest in deep-sea mining but also growing pressure from some environmental groups and government authorities to either prohibit it or make sure it only will go ahead if suitable regulations are in location.

Deep-sea mining uses heavy machinery to suck upward off the ocean floor potato-sized rocks or nodules that contain cobalt, manganese, and other rare metals mostly used in batteries.

Talking with a packed room at the United Nations Sea Conference in Lisbon, Palau President Surangel Whipps asked: “How can we in our right minds say ‘let’s go mining’ without knowing what the dangers are? ”

“We believe it is not worth the risk, ” he said. “We ask all of you to back up that… deep-sea mining increases the vulnerability of the seabed floor and marine life. ”

The International Seabed Authority (ISA), the UN body, is usually drawing up regulations regulating seabed mining in the high seas — areas outside any kind of national jurisdiction. Until global rules are in place, seabed exploration is not allowed.

The Deep Ocean Conservation Coalition, which usually also supports the moratorium, said the ISA would meet in July and August to try to force through draft regulations that, if followed, would see exploration licensed to begin within the deep ocean as soon as July 2023.

Earlier this 30 days, Chile also called for a 15-year moratorium upon adopting regulations, citing environmental concerns plus a lack of sufficient scientific data.

G7 countries last month agreed stringent environment controls should control deep-sea mining and they would consent in order to such mining projects only if they did not seriously harm the particular marine environment.

But not all nations are against this. China is a major supporter and even smaller countries like the tiny Pacific cycles island of Naru, for instance, asked the particular ISA last year in order to fast-track the adoption of seabed exploration regulations.

Companies such as Google, BMW and Samsung had been the first globally to register to a World Wildlife Fund call for an aufschub on deep-sea mining.

“The costs outweigh the short-term benefits, ” stated renowned oceanographer Sylvia Earle. “We have to hit the cease button. ”