Canadian company snubs UN and asks US for permission to carry out controversial operation
San Juan, Puerto Rico: A Canadian firm has sparked international controversy by applying to the US government for permission to mine the seafloor in international waters, bypassing the United Nations body that regulates such activity.
The Metals Company, through its US subsidiary, submitted applications to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on Tuesday, seeking two exploration licenses and a commercial recovery permit — the first attempt by any company to commercially mine the deep seabed.
The move has drawn sharp criticism from environmental groups and legal experts, as the Jamaica-based International Seabed Authority (ISA), a UN agency, holds exclusive authority to approve deep-sea mining in international waters. In March, the ISA warned that any commercial mining outside its authorization would violate international law.
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The filing comes just days after President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the Commerce Department to fast-track deep-sea mining permits.
Gerard Barron, CEO of The Metals Company, defended the decision, stating it offers the US a "shovel-ready path" to secure critical minerals like nickel, cobalt, and manganese.
Greenpeace’s Ruth Ramos condemned the move, telling the Associated Press it was a "unilateral American effort to carve up the Pacific Ocean" that undermines global cooperation.
The ISA was created to regulate mineral-related activities in the international seabed area, known as "the Area", which lies beyond national jurisdiction — essentially the deep ocean floor outside of any country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The ISA controls activities involving exploration and exploitation of mineral resources in the Area, including polymetallic nodules, polymetallic sulphides, and cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts. It grants licenses to states and corporations (through sponsorship by states) to explore and potentially mine these deep-sea resources.
Many scientists and environmental groups are concerned that deep-sea mining could damage fragile ecosystems that are poorly understood. The ISA is under pressure to finalize regulations for commercial mining, especially after the Pacific island nation of Nauru triggered a rule requiring the ISA to complete the mining code by July 2023 (which has now been extended).