Governments concluded two weeks of negotiations today at the International Seabed Authority (ISA) Council with the case for a moratorium on deep-sea mining even stronger than when they arrived. Over the course of the meeting, governments heard the ISA’s own experts highlight immense scientific uncertainty, confirmed that the contractor non-compliance inquiry will continue, and continued negotiating a Mining Code and wider governance framework that remains far from complete and remains inadequate to protect the marine environment and uphold equity.
The Council concluded days after orders were issued by the Seabed Disputes Chamber of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, which rejected contractor attempts to stop the ISA’s inquiry into possible non-compliance. The Council later decided to extend Nauru Ocean Resources Inc’s (NORI) exploration contract, while States made it clear the decision to extend was not an endorsement of the contractor’s conduct and was without prejudice to the outcome of the inquiry.
Publicly available information links NORI to the efforts by its sister company, The Metals Company (TMC) USA’s attempts to unilaterally mine the international seabed outside the ISA framework, a move widely considered illegal under international law. Throughout the Council, governments raised concerns that attempts to bypass the ISA framework threaten international law and undermine the principle that the international seabed is the common heritage of humankind, further reinforcing the case for a moratorium.
The scientific case for a moratorium was evident when the ISA’s own Legal and Technical Commission (LTC) highlighted gaps in the science and baseline data needed to establish reliable environmental thresholds for deep-sea mining. At the same time, Mining Code issues remain under negotiation, while key components of the wider regulatory framework, including standards and guidelines, benefit-sharing regulations and other governance measures, remain unfinished or yet to be substantially negotiated.
“Over the past two weeks, governments have been presented with more evidence that it would be dangerous to allow deep-sea mining to start under the current conditions.” said Sofia Tsenikli, DSCC Global Campaign Director. “The science is not there. The compliance inquiry is ongoing. The regulatory and governance framework remains absent. Unlawful mining attempts continue unchallenged by States and the International Seabed Authority. None of these points towards deep-sea mining. It points towards precaution. It points toward a moratorium. States’ inaction is in itself a threat to our common heritage; time to act now.”
“The ITLOS orders mean the inquiry can now move forward,” said Emma Wilson, DSCC Policy Advisor. “However, the decisions of this week show the Authority once again hindered by its outdated processes to move swiftly on companies breaking international law. By delaying action on unlawful mining, the ISA is undermining confidence in its ability to regulate the industry. If it cannot enforce the rules, it cannot manage exploitation. Meanwhile, governments must take action now to prevent their own companies and nationals from facilitating unilateral deep-sea mining in any way.”
“Governments have spoken repeatedly about defending the common heritage of humankind, but words alone will not protect it,” said Duncan Currie, DSCC Legal Advisor. “States now need to show that they are prepared to stand up to companies seeking to undermine the international system. The Law of the Sea Convention requires nothing less. Forty-three governments already support a moratorium or precautionary pause. The Assembly is an opportunity for others to join them.”
The DSCC is calling on governments during the Assembly to back a moratorium as the multilateral response needed to protect the common heritage of humankind, defend international law and deter unlawful deep-sea mining.
ENDS
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Notes to the Editor:
- The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC) is an alliance of more than 140+ organizations worldwide advocating for the protection of the deep sea.
- The ISA Council meets in Kingston, Jamaica from 13–24 July 2026, followed by the Assembly from 27–31 July 2026.
- 43 countries now support a moratorium or precautionary pause on deep-sea mining, including major businesses and financial institutions, scientists, Indigenous leaders, human rights experts and fishing groups