The vast expanse of the ocean, covering 70% of Earth’s surface, sustains life by regulating climate, producing oxygen, and absorbing carbon dioxide. Yet this critical ecosystem faces an emerging threat: deep-sea mining, a practice that risks irreversible damage to marine biodiversity and global climate systems. As nations and corporations eye mineral-rich seabeds for resources like cobalt and nickel—materials touted as essential for renewable energy technologies—scientists and advocates warn of catastrophic consequences if extraction proceeds unchecked.
Farah Obaidullah, a marine conservationist with over two decades of experience, has emerged as a leading voice against deep-sea mining. Through her organization, The Ocean and Us, she highlights the fragility of underwater ecosystems and the geopolitical risks of exploiting international waters. “The deep sea is a global commons,” she emphasized in a recent interview. “Allowing a handful of nations or companies to claim it risks a new era of ecological colonialism.”
Recent negotiations at the International Seabed Authority (ISA) in Jamaica underscored the contentious divide over seabed mining. While some countries, including Nauru, pushed for swift adoption of mining regulations under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, others called for a moratorium. The ISA failed to finalize a “Mining Code,” delaying decisions until 2025. Obaidullah views this stalemate as a partial victory but warns that corporate interests, particularly from entities like The Metals Company, continue lobbying to bypass international oversight.
The ecological stakes are immense. Mining operations target polymetallic nodules—mineral formations that take millions of years to develop and host ancient species, including corals and sponges thousands of years old. Disturbing these ecosystems could release stored carbon, destabilizing marine carbon sinks critical to mitigating climate change. “Once destroyed, these habitats won’t recover in our lifetimes—or ever,” Obaidullah stressed, noting that deep-sea mining aligns with the legal definition of ecocide, a term under consideration by the International Criminal Court.
Critics argue that the ISA’s dual mandate—to regulate mining while protecting marine environments—remains unfulfilled without robust environmental policies. Efforts to establish such guidelines have stalled, with Obaidullah attributing delays to opposition from a minority of states. She advocates for a moratorium, drawing parallels to the International Whaling Commission’s shift from regulating hunting to enforcing bans. “We need to ask: Is destroying the deep sea worth losing potential medical breakthroughs or insights into Earth’s life systems?”
Beyond policy, Obaidullah’s work addresses a gap in public awareness. Her book, The Ocean and Us, synthesizes complex marine science into accessible chapters on topics from pollution to biodiversity, aiming to foster global ocean literacy. “Understanding the sea’s role in our survival is not just for scientists,” she said. “It’s a lifeline for humanity.”
As debates over deep-sea mining intensify, the call for precaution grows louder. With 95% of the ocean floor still unexplored, the race to extract its resources threatens to outpace our understanding of its value—not just as a mineral source, but as a pillar of planetary health.
