The EU has been told that it must get its member states, which include Ireland, to back strict regulations for deep-sea mining, without which the high seas are at risk.
The warning has been given to European officials during a series of meetings in Brussels by the International Seabed Authority’s (ISA) Secretary-General, Leticia Reis de Carvalho. She said that the lack of predictable, clear rules for the deep seabed is causing an "existential threat” to the seas.
The ISA is the United Nations body for managing mineral resources in international waters, which cover half of the world’s oceans.
The already-stated official EU position is to support a moratorium on seabed mining, but in the United States, which is not a member of the Authority, President Trump announced last month a fast-tracked mining approach. “To give access to critical minerals deep sea to counter Chinese activities,” he said.
The Seabed Authority will hold its 31st annual general meeting starting in Jamaica on February 23, with a focus on attempting to finalise a Mining Code to establish rules for seabed mineral exploration and exploitation while safeguarding the marine environment.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said that Europe will work with other nations through a trade initiative on critical minerals.
