Trust in the sea-bed mining authority is fragile - here's how to change that

"The sea bed holds vast reserves of cobalt, nickel and other minerals, yet no international rules govern how such extraction might proceed or how its impacts should be contained. The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is mandated to set those rules, but in its July session, it failed to agree on a mining code. Meanwhile, 30 contracts for resource exploration remain in force and are edging closer to industrial extraction."

"Decision-making is concentrated in the ISA Council, which is responsible for rule-making, licensing and oversight. In other multilateral policy settings, guardianship and licensing are separated and public reporting is mandatory. The council deliberates mainly in closed sessions. Scientists and civil-society representatives can attend as observers, but rule 75 restricts them to a seat without a vote - they are present in the room, yet absent from the decision-making."

"A representation gap: decisions are dominated by states with mining interests, whereas nations without mining capacity - and independent scientists and civil-society groups - remain marginal. A mandate gap: safeguards are applied mainly as formalities, with weak links to science. And a legitimacy gap: baseline data produced largely by contractors are subject to little independent review or oversight - unlike in other governance regimes such as regional fisheries bodies or the International Whaling Commission."

The sea bed contains large reserves of cobalt, nickel and other minerals while no comprehensive international rules govern extraction or impact containment. The International Seabed Authority is mandated to set those rules but failed to agree a mining code during its July session, even as 30 exploration contracts approach industrial extraction. Decision-making is concentrated in the ISA Council, which handles rule-making, licensing and oversight and often meets in closed sessions with observers lacking voting rights under rule 75. Three structural gaps undermine governance: representation dominated by mining states, safeguards treated as formalities, and contractor-produced baseline data lacking independent review. Transparency and independent oversight are necessary to rebalance licensing and protection.

Read at Nature