Category: News

Understanding the Executive Order on Deep-sea Mining and Critical Minerals: Part 2, what is in the Executive Order?

Posted on By Andrew Thaler
Featured, News, Policy

Last night, the President signed an Executive Order on Deep-sea Mining. The order directs primarily NOAA and DOI to develop an expedited permitting process for mining in both the US EEZ and, chaotically, the high seas beyond US jurisdiction. I provide a brief overview of the industry here: Understanding the Executive Order on Deep-sea Mining … Read More “Understanding the Executive Order on Deep-sea Mining and Critical Minerals: Part 2, what is in the Executive Order?” »

Understanding the Executive Order on Deep-sea Mining and Critical Minerals: Part 1, what are we talking about?

Posted on By Andrew Thaler
Conservation, Featured, News

Late yesterday afternoon, the President signed and executive order on Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources. This order accelerates the US’s expansion into the nascent deep-sea mining industry, asserts its claims over minerals of the US outer continental shelf, and reasserts its claims over mineral deposits in the high seas, with some interesting caveats. … Read More “Understanding the Executive Order on Deep-sea Mining and Critical Minerals: Part 1, what are we talking about?” »

5 things you can do if you’re pissed off about the latest Trump EO

Posted on By Angelo Villagomez
Conservation, Featured, News, Policy

Donald Trump opened an area of about 250 million acres of protected American waters to industrial fishing fleets on Thursday.  This sets a very dangerous precedent that our public lands and waters are for sale to the highest bidder. I know that we’re all exhausted from the onslaught of daily outrages by the Trump administration.  … Read More “5 things you can do if you’re pissed off about the latest Trump EO” »

The Metals Company has a Jones Act Problem

Posted on By Andrew Thaler
Featured, News, Policy

The deep-sea mining world was thrown a curveball last week when, as the spring session of the International Seabed Authority came to a close, the Metals Company, one of several commercial ventures seeking permission to mine polymetallic nodules in the Clipperton-Clarion Zone, announced that they would seek permission to mine directly from the United States, … Read More “The Metals Company has a Jones Act Problem” »

Norway pushes pause on plans to mine the deep sea.

Posted on By Andrew Thaler
News, Policy

Early this year, the Norwegian parliament approved a bill to open up 300,000 square kilometers of it’s exclusive economic zone to companies exploring the potential for deep-sea mining for  lithium, scandium, cobalt, and other critical minerals. It was a bill allowing the issuing of exploration permits, an important first step towards the commercialization of deep-sea … Read More “Norway pushes pause on plans to mine the deep sea.” »

Leticia Carvalho will be the next Secretary General of the International Seabed Authority

Posted on By Andrew Thaler
Featured, News, Policy

In a surprise upset on the final day of the 29th Session of the International Seabed Authority, Leticia Carvalho secured the position of Secretary General over 8-year incumbent Michael Lodge. The 79 to 34 vote was a decisive rejection of Lodge’s leadership, whose tenure has been marred by criticism that he has improperly shared information … Read More “Leticia Carvalho will be the next Secretary General of the International Seabed Authority” »

Election of ISA Secretary-General mired by accusations of bribery and corruption

Posted on By Andrew Thaler
News, Policy

In a little over 2 week, the International Seabed Authority will once again convene in Kingston, Jamaica to continue the 30-year process of establishing a regulatory regime for mining the minerals of the deep sea beyond the borders of any nation. This deep-sea mining negotiation is the most important meeting for not only the future … Read More “Election of ISA Secretary-General mired by accusations of bribery and corruption” »