US bid for deep-sea mining permits sparks international contempt

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has accepted a bid from The Metals Company for exploration and commercial recovery permits in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean. This move, authorized under a 1980 U.S. law, is seen by international bodies like the International Seabed Authority (ISA) as a unilateral assertion of control over international waters, which they consider the common heritage of humankind. The Metals Company, previously operating under sponsorships from Pacific nations, shifted its focus to the U.S. pathway after the ISA failed to finalize mining regulations. AI

RANK_REASON Regulatory action by a major government agency regarding resource extraction in international waters, met with significant international opposition. [lever_c_demoted from significant: ic=1 ai=0.1]

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• International Seabed Authority
• Kiribati
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• Nauru
• The Metals Company
• Tonga

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