'No consultations': Pacific communities shocked by controversial US auction proposal
A US proposal to auction off sections of sea floor for mining has alarmed its tropical island territories.
Pacific island communities have expressed shock and outrage after the United States announced plans to auction parts of the Pacific Ocean for deep-sea mining exploration without consulting the local populations, according to Pacific island leader David Apatang. The United States has proposed auctioning specific ocean blocks near American Samoa and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, with some communities fearing the mining could disrupt food security and harm marine life.
Despite the environmental concerns, mining companies see immense economic potential in the mineral deposits scattered on the ocean floor. The US has been urging the exploration of these resources, particularly for renewable energy and military applications, since President Donald Trump signed an executive order in 2025. However, the affected Pacific island communities, including American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands, are pushing for at least a temporary ban on deep-sea mining in their territorial waters.
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