Pacific islands alarmed by Trump-backed push for deep-sea mining
A Pacific island leader says there were "no consultations" before the U.S. announced swaths of nearby ocean could be auctioned for deep-sea mining exploration, telling AFP the industry faced strong opposition among his people.
The Trump administration has proposed auctioning off portions of the Pacific Ocean for deep-sea mining exploration, causing alarm among Pacific island territories. The Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands Governor David Apatang expressed strong opposition from his people, as there were no consultations with them before the U.S. made the announcement.
The U.S. plans to auction areas near American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands, with one block near American Samoa set for an auction in November. Deep-sea mining companies aim to extract valuable minerals like nickel, copper, and cobalt from the ocean floor, but critics warn of irreversible damage to marine life and disruptions to food security and fisheries.
The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is considering licenses for preliminary surveys and sampling, with commercial exploitation pending further approval. Local governments, including the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa, are considering temporary bans or port restrictions on deep-sea mining vessels.
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