Leaders warn race for minerals could turn seabed into ‘wild west’

World leaders on Monday called for strict rules to govern deep-sea mining and warned against racing to exploit the ocean floor in a thinly veiled rebuke of US President Donald Trump.

Growing anxiety over Trump’s unilateral push to fast-track deep-sea mining in international waters shot to the surface at the opening of the UN Ocean Conference in southern France.

“I think it’s madness to launch predatory economic action that will disrupt the deep seabed, disrupt biodiversity, destroy it and release irrecoverable carbon sinks—when we know nothing about it,” said French President Emmanuel Macron.

Imposing a moratorium on seabed mining was “an international necessity”, said Macron.

The number of countries opposed to seabed mining rose to 36 on Monday, according to a tally kept by the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, an umbrella group of non-governmental organizations.

Trump was not among the roughly 60 heads of state and government in the seaside town of Nice but his specter loomed large as leaders defended the global multilateralism he has spurned.

Of particular concern is his move to sidestep the International Seabed Authority (ISA) and issue permits directly to companies wanting to extract nickel and other metals from waters beyond US jurisdiction.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called for “clear action” from the seabed authority to end a “predatory race” for deep-ocean minerals.

“We now see the threat of unilateralism looming over the ocean. We cannot allow what happened to international trade to happen to the sea,” he said.

The deep sea, Greenland and Antarctica were “not for sale”, Macron said in further remarks directed clearly at Trump’s expansionist claims.

The ISA, which has jurisdiction over the ocean floor outside national waters, is meeting in July to discuss a global mining code to regulate mining in the ocean depths.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he supported these negotiations and urged caution as countries navigate these “new waters on seabed mining”.

“The deep sea cannot become the wild west,” he said, to applause from the plenary floor.

‘Wave of hope’

Island nations also spoke out against seabed mining, which scientists warn could result in untold damage to ecosystems largely unexplored by humanity.

“Here in Nice, we can feel that the looming threat of deep-sea mining, and the recent reckless behavior of the industry is seen by many states as unacceptable,” said Megan Randles from Greenpeace.

Meanwhile, a flurry of last-minute signatures in Nice brought a treaty to protect 60% of the world’s oceans outside national jurisdiction closer to law.

Macron told reporters that 55 nations had ratified the high seas treaty, just five shy of the number required for its enactment.

The president gave two thumbs up and a broad grin as he posed with the new signatories, and said the accord would come into force by January 1, 2026.

According to the UN, 18 new ratifications took place on Monday, bringing the total to 50. Others could arrive in the coming days.

“Today’s surge of ratifications for the High Seas Treaty is a tidal wave of hope and a huge cause for celebration,” Rebecca Hubbard, director of the High Seas Alliance, told AFP.

‘Prove you’re serious’

On Monday, the United Kingdom announced plans to extend a partial ban on bottom trawling in some of its protected marine areas, following a similar move by France at the weekend.

Greece, Brazil and Spain took the opportunity Monday to announce the creation of new marine parks, following recent similar action from Samoa.

And French Polynesia unveiled what will be the world’s largest marine protected zone, said the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Just eight percent of global oceans are designated for marine conservation, despite a globally agreed target to achieve 30% coverage by 2030.

Macron said he hoped that coverage would grow to 12% by the summit’s close on Friday.

Environment groups say that for marine parks to be considered truly protected they need to ban trawling and other harmful activities, and be properly funded.

Wealthy nations face pressure in Nice to commit money to make that level of ocean conservation a reality.

Small island states are leading the charge for money and political support to better combat rising seas, marine trash and the plunder of fish stocks that hurt their economies.

“We say to you, if you are serious about protecting the ocean, prove it,” said President Surangel Whipps Jr of Palau, a low-lying Pacific nation.

© 2025 AFP

Enjoy the perfect blend of retro charm and modern convenience with the Udreamer Vinyl Record Player. With 9,041 ratings, a 4.3/5-star average, and 400+ units sold in the past month, this player is a fan favorite, available now for just $39.99.

The record player features built-in stereo speakers that deliver retro-style sound while also offering modern functionality. Pair it with your phone via Bluetooth to wirelessly listen to your favorite tracks. Udreamer also provides 24-hour one-on-one service for customer support, ensuring your satisfaction.

Don’t miss out—get yours today for only $39.99 at Amazon!

Help Power Techcratic’s Future – Scan To Support

If Techcratic’s content and insights have helped you, consider giving back by supporting the platform with crypto. Every contribution makes a difference, whether it’s for high-quality content, server maintenance, or future updates. Techcratic is constantly evolving, and your support helps drive that progress.

As a solo operator who wears all the hats, creating content, managing the tech, and running the site, your support allows me to stay focused on delivering valuable resources. Your support keeps everything running smoothly and enables me to continue creating the content you love. I’m deeply grateful for your support, it truly means the world to me! Thank you!