Consider This from NPR Deep-sea mining is unregulated. Some want to forge ahead anyway
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Aug 10, 2025 The podcast dives into the contentious world of deep-sea mining, highlighting a recent push by the Trump administration and a Canadian company to scan the ocean floor despite a lack of regulation. Experts discuss the environmental risks and the urgent need for scientific research to safeguard marine biodiversity. Compelling insights reveal the intricate dynamics of these ecosystems and the potential ecological toll of extracting resources like manganese nodules. Listeners are urged to consider the delicate balance between economic interests and environmental protection.
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Vast Nodules Litter The Deep Seafloor
- The Clarion-Clipperton Zone holds billions of polymetallic nodules rich in critical metals.
- Industry sees them as accessible deposits on the seabed awaiting extraction.
U.S. Moves Ahead Without International Rules
- The Trump administration signed an order to fast-track deep-sea mining and talks with the Cook Islands.
- That stance contrasts with countries waiting for International Seabed Authority rules.
Deep Sea Feels Like Another Planet
- Beth Orcutt describes descending through the sunlit zone into a dark, bioluminescent world.
- She says the deep seafloor feels like it could be the setting of science fiction.