Deep-sea minerals are found in the depths of the ocean, some in thousands of meters below the surface on the seafloor. Deep-sea mining has not yet occurred in international areas – those areas where no one state has jurisdiction, but where international cooperation is needed. The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is responsible for administering the international ocean floor – the “Area”.
States regularly meet in the headquarters of the ISA to negotiate rules and regulations under what conditions deep-sea mining could be allowed and which environmental standards would have to be followed and how to ensure that everyone benefits from potential mining activities. Not an easy task – therefore this episode introduces the topic of deep-sea mining and the organs of the ISA. Timely with the negotiation schedule, this episode summarises the current state of the negotiations and which questions remain for the upcoming meetings.
- What does the International Seabed Authority do?
- How can potential benefits from deep-seabed minerals be equitably shared?
- What is the current state of the negotiations at the ISA?
- What does the new US executive order regarding deep-sea mining entail?
- And how does the International Seabed Authority relate to the new Agreement for Biodiversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ)?
Guests: Aline Jaeckel (ANCORS) and Pradeep Singh (Ozeano Azul Foundation)
Hosts: Ina Tessnow-von Wysocki & Jennifer Macey
Sound design and editing: Emily Perkins
Communication: Sunnefa Yeatman
For comments & feedback please contact: inatvw@uow.edu.au
ANCORS literature on Deep-Seabed Mining
- Singh, P. A., Jaeckel, A., & Ardron, J. A. (2025). A Pause or Moratorium for Deep Seabed Mining in the Area? The Legal Basis, Potential Pathways, and Possible Policy Implications. Ocean Development & International Law, 56(1), 18–44. https://doi.org/10.1080/00908320.2024.2439877
- Singh P, Jaeckel A. Undermining by Mining? Deep Seabed Mining in Light of International Marine Environmental Law. AJIL Unbound. 2024;118:72-77. doi:10.1017/aju.2024.8
- Jaeckel, A., Harden-Davies, H., Amon, D.J. et al. Deep seabed mining lacks social legitimacy. npj Ocean Sustain 2, 1 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44183-023-00009-7
- Jaeckel, A. L. (05 Jan. 2017). The International Seabed Authority and the Precautionary Principle. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill | Nijhoff. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004332287
More Information about Deep-sea Mining
International Seabed Authority Website
Oceano Azul Foundation Website
Follow the negotiations live on the official ISA Web TV:
Council (23 June – 4 July 2025)
Assembly (21 – 25 July 2025)