Ocean Conservancy Condemns Deep Sea Mining Executive Order

WASHINGTON – Today, President Trump issued an executive order directing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to allow permitting for deep-sea mining despite objections by more than 30 countries worldwide. This executive order, spurred by a proposal from The Metals Company requesting U.S. approval for mining in international waters, would bypass the authority of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), a U.N.-affiliated agency which is in the midst of considering standards for deep-sea mining across the world.

Jeff Watters, Ocean Conservancy’s vice president for external affairs, issued the following statement in response.

“This executive order flies in the face of NOAA’s mission. NOAA is charged with protecting, not imperiling, the ocean and its economic benefits, including fishing and tourism; and scientists agree that deep-sea mining is a deeply dangerous endeavour for our ocean and all of us who depend on it.

“Areas of the U.S. seafloor where test mining took place over 50 years ago still haven’t fully recovered. The harm caused by deep-sea mining isn’t restricted to the ocean floor: it will impact the entire water column, top to bottom, and everyone and everything relying on it. Evidence tells us that areas targeted for deep-sea mining often overlap with important fisheries, raising serious concerns about the impacts on the country’s $321 billion fishing industry.

“NOAA is already being threatened by this Administration’s unprecedented cuts. NOAA is the eyes and ears for our water and air. NOAA provides Americans with accessible and accurate weather forecasts; it tracks hurricanes and tsunamis; it responds to oil spills; it keeps seafood on the table; and so much more. Forcing the agency to carry out deep-sea mining permitting while these essential services are slashed will only harm our ocean and our country.

“It’s not just our country this executive order would harm: this action has far-reaching implications beyond the U.S.. By unilaterally pursuing mining in international waters in defiance of the rest of the world, the Administration is opening a door for other countries to do the same — and all of us, and the ocean we all depend on, will be worse off for it.

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