Deep-Sea Mining and the Clarion-Clipperton Zone — 2026-10-06
Recent developments in deep-sea mining have highlighted a growing divide between US unilateral permitting efforts and international regulatory frameworks, with new partnerships forming for onshore processing. A critical independent report released this week challenges the economic viability of seabed mining, while Pacific Island nations continue to navigate complex sovereignty and environmental concerns regarding extraction rights.
Deep-Sea Mining and the Clarion-Clipperton Zone — 2026-10-06
Top developments
The Mining Code: Draft Exploitation Regulations - International Seabed Authority
The Council of the International Seabed Authority advanced negotiations on the Mining Code - Interna
International Seabed Authority holds a landmark 30th session: the Assembly adopts historic decisions
Independent Report Challenges Economic Viability of Seabed Mining
On October 5, 2026, an independent report titled "Deep-sea mining fails the money test" was published, stress-testing figures from The Metals Company (TMC). The analysis concludes that deep-sea mining destroys value in most scenarios and could result in revenue losses for governments, contradicting industry claims of profitability. This finding is significant as it provides ammunition for moratorium campaigns and may influence the International Seabed Authority’s (ISA) ongoing deliberations on the financial regime of the Mining Code, which emphasizes equitable benefit-sharing.
The Mining Code: Draft Exploitation Regulations - International Seabed Authority
The Council of the International Seabed Authority advanced negotiations on the Mining Code - Interna
International Seabed Authority holds a landmark 30th session: the Assembly adopts historic decisions
US Companies Partner for Onshore Nodule Processing
Deep Sea Minerals Corp. and Westwin Elements signed a non-binding letter of intent on September 23, 2026, to evaluate the processing of polymetallic nodules in the United States. This move addresses a critical bottleneck: the lack of domestic infrastructure to refine minerals extracted from the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ). As federal authorities work to issue permits under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act, the success of these commercial recovery applications depends heavily on establishing viable supply chains that bypass traditional international regulatory hurdles.
Cook Islands Debates Sovereignty and Mining Prospects
Local media in the Cook Islands reported on October 1, 2026, that the nation faces "tough choices" regarding deep-sea mining prospects, with community debates intensifying ahead of upcoming elections. The Cook Islands recently signed a seabed minerals MOU with the US, allowing Pacific states to mine their own waters without ISA oversight. This bilateral approach is being scrutinized by local stakeholders who worry about environmental impacts and the precedent it sets for bypassing multilateral governance structures like the ISA.
Local view
Cook Islands News reports that community leaders and youth groups in Rarotonga are actively debating the implications of deep-sea mining, highlighting a polarized public opinion between economic opportunity and environmental preservation. Nicolea Mateariki, a local community member, is leading discussions with youth groups about the long-term impacts of extracting nodules from the seabed, reflecting broader regional anxieties about sovereignty and ecological damage.
Context & numbers
The US is accelerating its push for deep-sea mining through executive orders and permits, creating a parallel track to the ISA's stalled Mining Code negotiations. While the ISA has not finalized its exploitation regulations as of its March 2026 session, the US Department of the Interior has stated intentions to issue permits within months. The market size for deep-sea mining is projected to reach USD 19 billion by 2035, but recent economic analyses suggest these projections may be overly optimistic given current refining costs and environmental liabilities.
On the radar
- ISA Intersessional Work: The ISA Council emphasized the importance of strengthening intersessional work from March to July 2026, with negotiations on the Mining Code continuing in the background.
- US Permitting Timeline: Stakeholders are watching closely for the first commercial recovery permit decisions under the DSHMRA, which could set a de facto standard for environmental impact assessments outside the ISA framework.
- Pacific Pre-COP31: Pacific Island leaders are meeting in Tuvalu and Fiji to advocate for ocean protection and climate finance, likely addressing deep-sea mining concerns alongside climate resilience.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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