Sydney (AFP) – Deep-sea mining companies face a blizzard of litigation if they forge ahead with "unlawful" plans backed by US President Donald Trump to dig critical minerals from the ocean floor, the head of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) told AFP on Friday.
Issued on: 22/05/2026 - 07:03
The UN-backed body is tasked with setting regulations for deep-sea mining in international waters, and is currently drafting the founding set of rules for the polarising industry.
Frustrated after years of waiting for this legal framework, a string of companies have declared they will sidestep the authority and instead start mining using untested US laws.
ISA Secretary-General Leticia Carvalho said she would "firmly consider this to be unlawful activity".
