The false promise of deep-sea mining

Justin Alger; Jessica F. Green; Kate J. Neville; Susan Park; Stacy D. VanDeveer; D. G. Webster

doi:10.1038/s44183-025-00127-4

npj Ocean Sustainability (May 2025)

The false promise of deep-sea mining

Justin Alger,
Jessica F. Green,
Kate J. Neville,
Susan Park,
Stacy D. VanDeveer,
D. G. Webster

Affiliations

Justin Alger: School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Melbourne
Jessica F. Green: Department of Political Science and School of the Environment, University of Toronto
Kate J. Neville: Department of Political Science and School of the Environment, University of Toronto
Susan Park: School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Sydney
Stacy D. VanDeveer: John W. McCormack School of Policy and Global Studies, University of Massachusetts Boston
D. G. Webster: Environmental Studies Department, Dartmouth College

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44183-025-00127-4
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 4, no. 1
pp. 1 – 4

Abstract

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Abstract Deep-sea mining of the international seabed could begin soon, despite concerns about its ecological consequences. We join others calling for a ban on international seabed mining, but for a different reason: it is a multi-billion-dollar solution to problems that do not exist. We refute three pro-extraction arguments—about (1) mineral scarcity, (2) social benefits, and (3) economic benefits—that misrepresent the state of the mining industry and mineral supply chains.

Published in npj Ocean Sustainability

ISSN: 2731-426X (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Geography. Anthropology. Recreation: Oceanography; Geography. Anthropology. Recreation: Environmental sciences
Website: https://www.nature.com/npjoceansustain/

About the journal