An international meeting by the International Seabed Authority (ISA) in Kingston, Jamaica, ended by issuing no green light to allow industrial deep-sea mining but with a last-minute agreement to hold formal discussions next year on the protection of the marine environment.

Intense week-long negotiations were cut by the intergovernmental body that regulates sea-bed extraction over a proposal submitted by Chile, France, and Costa Rica while backed by a dozen countries to talk about a precautionary pause on deep-sea mining to protect the sea. 

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The compromise was welcomed by environmentalists as an “open door” to a proper discussion by the ISA assembly, comprised of 168 member states and the EU, stating that “important strides forward” have been made toward the protection of the marine environment.

The body's 36-member council decided last week, in a decision that effectively delayed mining projects, that it would work “with a view” to adopt regulations in 2025 but it did not decide on how to consider any application requests that might arrive until then - sparking criticism that this was a legal loophole.

UNCHR calls for a full stop

On Wednesday, French secretary of state for seas, Hervé Berville, reiterated France's ban on deep-sea mining, saying, “We cannot and must not embark on a new industrial activity when we are not able to fully measure its consequences and therefore risk irreversible damage to our marine ecosystems.”

Over 20 nations in the assembly called for a ban, arguing that there is no sufficient awareness regarding mining’s impact on deep-sea ecosystems to proceed. Brazil called for a pause of 10 years, and other countries resisted.

Nauru’s President Russ Kun expressed disappointment that regulations have not yet been adopted by the body, telling delegates, “We have a window of opportunity to support the development of a sector that Nauru considers has the potential to help accelerate our energy transition to combat climate change.”

Advocates for deep-sea mining claim that the action is needed to meet the increasing demand for metals used in batteries that power the green transition from fossil fuels.

Louisa Casson, the global project leader for Greenpeace’s campaign to stop deep-sea mining, relayed, “These last three weeks have seen important strides forward for ocean protection. Industry really thought this was the moment when mining would go ahead.”

Sofia Tsenikli, of the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, said, “What is clear is that the growing opposition to deep-sea mining has burst the ISA bubble, and pro-mining interests now know business as usual is over," adding, “The need to protect the ocean from the impacts of mining took center stage inside and outside of the ISA during these weeks, despite efforts to silence the debate.”

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The UN high commissioner for human rights, alongside 37 global financial institutions, seafood groups, scientists, and Indigenous groups called for a stop over the past month to deep-sea mining.

The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which established the ISA, charges the authority with regulating mining activities and protecting the marine environment. However, the treaty also emphasizes that the seabed and its mineral resources are the "common heritage of mankind" and part of the ISA's mandate includes equitable sharing of financial benefits.