The Big Turn: American Legislation and Donald Trump’s Declarations
The United States has just crossed a decisive threshold in regulating seabed mining. Under the Trump administration, speeches and legislative projects have paved the way for simplifying extraction procedures in international waters and the American exclusive economic zone. This dynamic is part of an “energy dominance” policy where sovereignty over marine resources becomes a strategic issue.
The main beneficiary of this legislative evolution is undoubtedly the mining industry and its financial partners. The new rules favor private investment by reducing environmental constraints and accelerating authorization processes. Mining companies, whether American or transnational, thus find a favorable ground for the exploration and rapid exploitation of deposits of precious metals contained in polymetallic nodules.
This approach raises serious concerns within the scientific community and NGOs. Environmental defenders denounce legislation tailored to economic interests, to the detriment of the protection of living beings. They point out the absence of serious impact assessments and the difficulty in monitoring effects on little-known ecosystems.
Donald Trump’s declarations perfectly illustrate this trend. By highlighting “American greatness” through the conquest of underwater riches, he legitimizes an acceleration of mining exploitation at the expense of ecological caution. The nationalist rhetoric masks the reality of a power game where multinationals are the main winners.
Multinationals: Glencore and the New Rush to the Abyss
Glencore, the Swiss giant of raw materials, finds itself at the heart of criticisms from the initiative for responsible multinationals. The company, already involved in terrestrial environmental controversies, is among the major investors in seabed exploration, through its participation in international consortia.
Glencore’s involvement shows how seabed mining attracts actors already contested for their opaque management and their social and ecological impacts. The pressure exerted by citizen campaigns in Switzerland has not yet slowed these companies’ appetite for marine deposits.
The business model of these multinationals is based on anticipating increased demand for rare metals, essential for the energy transition (batteries, wind turbines, etc.). This discourse, often presented as “green”, justifies the conquest of the deep sea in the name of the fight against climate change. But it obscures the risk of displacing pollution and sacrificing unique marine ecosystems.
The opacity of supply chains and the lack of transparency of operations in the high seas complicate the task of NGOs and journalists. The operating companies benefit from a significant margin of maneuver, far from the public eye and national regulators.
Abyssal Biodiversity: A Heritage at Risk
The biodiversity of the seabed represents a global heritage of extreme fragility. Abyssal plains, underwater mountains, and hydrothermal fields harbor unknown species, often endemic, which play a key role in the carbon cycle and climate stability.
Mining exploitation directly threatens these ecosystems. Extraction machines stir up sediments, destroying the habitat of many species and releasing toxic particles that spread over hundreds of kilometers. Scientific studies show that the recovery of damaged environments could take centuries, or even be impossible.
The impact on the food chain is also worrying. The destruction of microorganisms and bottom-dwelling invertebrates affects the entire ecological pyramid, with possible repercussions up to large marine predators. These effects are still poorly understood, due to a lack of in-depth research on the functioning of the abyss.
Finally, the pollution generated by mining exploitation (heavy metals, hydrocarbons, noise, vibrations) adds to existing threats such as climate change, plastics, and overfishing. The accumulation of environmental stressors risks pushing some habitats to the point of no return.
Deep Rising: A Still Nascent Citizen Mobilization
Faced with the rise of deep-sea mining industry, popular mobilization remains limited. Information campaigns about the consequences for biodiversity and future pollution struggle to reach the general public, still little aware of the issues of the abyss.
Specialized NGOs and some citizen collectives are trying to alert through petitions, documentaries (like “Deep Rising”), and advocacy actions with governments. However, the message clashes with scientific complexity and the difficulty of making an invisible underwater world visible.
Mainstream media rarely relay these alerts, often preferring the positive narrative of “technological solutions” or the story of the energy transition. This “invisibilization” of risks contributes to inaction and the discreet progression of mining projects.
However, there are promising examples: some Pacific island communities, directly threatened, organize local information and resistance campaigns. Their experience shows the importance of linking global issues to local realities to mobilize effectively.
What Levers for Effective Protection of Marine Life?
To protect the abyss, it is essential to strengthen international legislation. The International Seabed Authority (ISA), responsible for issuing exploration licenses, is under strong pressure from industrialists and some member states. A moratorium on commercial exploitation, requested by many scientists, would buy time to understand the impacts and develop alternatives.
Transparency and citizen participation are essential conditions for responsible governance. Information campaigns must multiply, relying on educational tools, virtual immersions, and partnerships with the media. The goal: to make the abyss “visible” and understandable to all.
Another lever is to question the “demand” for rare metals. Material sobriety, recycling, and innovation in clean technologies can reduce pressure on mining resources. It is about getting out of the false dilemma between ecological transition and destruction of new natural habitats.
Finally, international mobilization must rely on alliances between scientists, NGOs, indigenous peoples, and citizens. The protection of marine life cannot be left solely in the hands of industrialists and short-term politicians. It requires a long-term vision, based on the preservation of the common heritage of humanity.
Conclusion: An Uncertain Future, but Possible Alternatives
Seabed mining embodies the contradictions of our time. On one hand, the promise of metals for the ecological transition; on the other, the threat of a silent ecological catastrophe, out of sight. The new American legislation and the power of multinationals like Glencore show that the race to the abyss has begun.
Yet, the future is not predetermined. Citizen mobilization, technological innovation, and international cooperation can still reverse the trend. Inform, question, act: these are the pillars of effective protection of marine life. The challenge is immense, but the history of ecology proves that civil society can influence industrial and political choices.
The “Deep Rising” campaign carries a clear message: it is not too late to defend the abyss, provided we do not look away. Everyone, at their level, can contribute to preserving this unique heritage. The issue goes beyond biodiversity alone: it is about our relationship with living beings and our common future on the blue planet.
Sources:
- The Ocean Dispute – Deep Rising
- Deep Rising – Coalition pour des multinationales responsables
- Reporterre – Donald Trump livre les océans à l’exploitation minière
- Novethic – Première demande d’exploitation minière en fonds marins
- BLOOM Association – La victoire de Lisbonne
- Le Club des Juristes – Décret Trump et droit international de la mer
- National Geographic – Exploitation minière en eaux profondes : comment protéger la biodiversité
- Blick – L’Autorité des fonds marins dénonce l’extraction minière des USA
- Deep Sea Mining Regulations: 2025 Critical Decisions Ahead
- What We Know About Deep-Sea Mining and What We Don’t
- Deep Sea Mining and the Green Transition
- Protect the deep sea by joining a global day of action
- The international legal framework for deep sea mining: a primer
- Deep-Sea Mining: Risks, Impact, and Alternatives
