US territories hit out at Trump plan to explore deep sea mining in the Pacific
A US government plan to lease out millions of hectares of seabed near the Mariana Trench for deep sea exploration has drawn opposition from US territories in the Pacific, as the Trump administration remains locked in a race with China for control of critical ocean minerals. On Tuesday, the Marine Mineral Administration (MMA), an agency under the […]
The United States government is proposing to lease deep-sea areas near the Mariana Trench for mining, drawing criticism from Pacific territories such as the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam. The Marine Mineral Administration (MMA), part of the U.S. Department of the Interior, released a plan to auction deep-sea mining leases for 28 million hectares (69 million acres) of seabed off the coast of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam.
These leases would permit companies to investigate the seabed and possibly extract polymetallic nodules – minerals used in batteries, electronics, and defense technologies. Environmental groups have raised concerns about the potential negative effects of deep sea mining on marine ecosystems, emphasizing the need for further research before proceeding.
The governor of the Northern Marianas, David Apatang, has warned that any activity must be backed by rigorous scientific studies, transparency, and strict protections for marine resources. He stated that his administration will closely review the proposed terms within the next 60 days to ensure the safety of the environment and the long-term well-being of the Northern Marianas.
Similarly, Guam's lieutenant governor, Joshua Tenorio, has voiced his unease, asserting that national security concerns should not compromise the environmental risks involved. Guam has unequivocally opposed the deep-sea mining efforts, expressing doubts about the assurances provided by the Trump administration regarding the absence of mining activities upon the awarding of licenses.
The proposed lease notice comes shortly after a leasing process for 12.4 million hectares (31 million acres) of American Samoa's seafloor was initiated, with plans to award contracts in November. The governor of American Samoa, Nikolau Pula, has also expressed opposition to deep-sea mining, stressing the possible harm to the territory's tuna industry, which is vital to its economy.
In August, environmental groups in American Samoa and Hawaii filed legal proceedings against the U.S. government to halt the proposed auction of seafloor permits around the islands, warning that the extraction machinery could destroy nearly all marine life and introduce toxic substances into the food web.
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