Pacific Islands Alarmed by Trump-Backed Push for Deep-Sea Mining
Scientists say mining slurry and toxic plumes could spread into northern B.C. and threaten glass sponge reefs, fish and sperm whales.
- Earlier this year, the United States alarmed its tropical island territories by detailing plans to carve up parts of the Pacific Ocean for mining exploration near the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and American Samoa.
- President Donald Trump signed an executive order in 2025 aimed at "unleashing" seabed resources, citing demand for renewable energy and military applications as companies pursue polymetallic nodules containing nickel and cobalt.
- Cherisse Du Preez, head of deepwater ecology at Fisheries and Oceans Canada, warns deep-sea mining could cause more damage than climate change, noting toxic sediment plumes and noise pollution threaten creatures adapting on geological timescales.
- Guam passed laws this year banning mining vessels from its ports to protect fuel and supply access, while Northern Mariana Islands Governor David Apatang said the plans caused "great unease" regarding food security.
- Pacific nations remain divided on whether mining delivers economic windfalls or environmental catastrophe; nations like Fiji and Palau call for a moratorium, advocating the precautionary principle to protect undiscovered deep-sea ecosystems.
14 Articles
14 Articles
The leader of a Pacific island says there was "no consultation" before the United States announced it could open up large swaths of nearby waters for deep-sea mining exploration, telling AFP the industry faces strong opposition from his people. David Apatang, governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, said the idea had caused widespread unrest on the tropical islands, home to about 40,000 people....
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The Pacific American Islands are worried about Trump's desire for deep-water exploration
Pacific islands alarmed by Trump-backed push for deep-sea mining
Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands Governor David Apatang said the idea had caused great unease across the tropical island chain of some 40,000 people. The United States alarmed its tropical island territories earlier this year, detailing plans to carve up parts of the Pacific Ocean for mining exploration. Mining companies see enormous wealth in mineral deposits scattered across the seabed, but the fledgling industry has for years been hel…
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