International Seabed Authority prepares for election amid deep-sea mining debate

The International Seabed Authority (ISA), a United Nations body that regulates the deep international ocean floor, is preparing to elect its next leader. This is a key position because the ISA is under pressure to decide whether to allow, ban, or pause deep-sea mining. The authority, based in Jamaica, recently ended a two-week session without agreeing on a set of rules for such mining.

Deep-sea mining means taking valuable minerals from the floor of the deep ocean. There is rising demand for metals such as cobalt, nickel and copper, which are used in green technologies like batteries. Exploration has been going on in the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone, a large area in the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and Mexico, at depths of several thousand metres. However, no licence to actually mine the seabed has yet been issued.

The debate over deep-sea mining is sharp. Scientists warn that the minerals on the deep ocean floor take millions of years to form, and that mining could cause harmful noise, light, and dust that damage fragile sea life. More than two dozen countries have called for a ban, pause, or moratorium, and some companies have pledged not to use materials from deep-sea mining. Supporters argue it is cheaper and less damaging than mining on land.

The ISA is scheduled to elect its next leader, with the current secretary general seeking a third term against a challenger. A concern is that the authority could receive the first ever application for a deep-sea mining licence later in the year before any clear rules are in place.

For exam preparation, this topic is useful for understanding the International Seabed Authority, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, environmental concerns over the ocean, and the global debate on critical minerals.