Deep-Sea Mining and the Clarion-Clipperton Zone — 2026-10-20
The US Treasury has officially recognized deep-sea mining in its critical minerals policy, while US regulators certified a new exploration license for the Clarion-Clipperton Zone. Concurrently, a major scientific expedition is underway to assess the long-term environmental impacts of previous test-mining activities in the same region.
Deep-Sea Mining and the Clarion-Clipperton Zone — 2026-10-20
Top developments
US Treasury Endorses Deep-Sea Mining in Critical Minerals Policy
On October 19, 2026, Deep Sea Minerals Corp. announced that US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent recognized deep-sea mining in a statement for the World Bank Development Committee and the IMF's International Monetary and Financial Committee. This endorsement signals a shift in US federal policy, potentially smoothing the path for companies seeking to process polymetallic nodules domestically. For the Seabed Authority and private sponsors, this aligns with recent moves to bypass international regulatory delays by leveraging US domestic law for critical mineral security.
US Regulators Certify New Deep-Sea Mining Exploration License
American Metal announced that US regulators have certified its application for a license to explore for critical minerals in the Pacific Ocean, specifically in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone. This certification, finalized recently, marks a significant step in the US-driven permitting process that operates parallel to the International Seabed Authority (ISA). The approval allows for exploration activities under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act, testing the viability of unilateral US seabed governance.
NOAA Advances Review of Exploration License Application
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has received and advanced the review of an application for a deep seabed mining exploration license. The notice of receipt was published in the Federal Register on October 13, 2026, initiating a public comment period and a virtual public hearing. This regulatory step is critical for any US-based entity seeking to move from exploration to commercial recovery, creating a domestic legal framework that challenges the ISA's monopoly on seabed regulation.
Expedition SO322 Returns to CCZ Test Site to Assess Recovery
In October 2026, the research vessel SONNE set sail for the Clarion-Clipperton Zone to revisit a mining test site five and a half years after an experimental collector removed polymetallic nodules. The expedition aims to assess biological and sediment changes, providing crucial data on the resilience of abyssal plain ecosystems. These findings will directly influence the ongoing negotiations for the ISA's mining code, particularly regarding environmental impact assessments and recovery timelines.
Local view
Cook Islands Voices Concerns Over US Seabed Mining Bid
The Te Ipukarea Society and local media in the Cook Islands have raised alarms about the US attempt to authorize deep-seabed mining through domestic law. They argue this unilateral approach could undermine international ocean governance and negatively impact Pacific states. With the Cook Islands already facing internal debate over its own seabed minerals potential, the US move is seen as a direct challenge to the multilateral framework that small island nations rely on for environmental protection and equitable benefit-sharing.
Context & numbers
Nodule Growth Rates and Environmental Fragility
Scientific data cited in recent expeditions highlights the extreme fragility of the Clarion-Clipperton Zone ecosystem. Polymetallic nodules grow at a rate of approximately one to two millimeters per million years. This slow formation rate underscores why the removal of nodules is considered a permanent loss of a geological resource and a significant disturbance to the benthic habitat. The current expedition is specifically designed to measure how long it takes for biological assemblages to recover from such disturbances, a key metric for the "precautionary approach" advocated by moratorium campaigns.
On the radar
- Public Comment Periods: Stakeholders should monitor the Federal Register for the closing date of the public comment period regarding the recent exploration license application received by NOAA.
- ISA Council Session: While the specific dates for the next ISA Council session are not in the immediate past-week news, the ongoing negotiations on the Mining Code remain the central backdrop for all unilateral US actions.
- Deep Sea Minerals Corp Updates: Investors and regulators are watching for further details on the corporate update provided by Deep Sea Minerals Corp following the US Treasury's endorsement.
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