What is happening? The ocean floor is becoming a new frontier of territorial expansion. This “scramble for the oceans” echoes historical territorial expansion, using the same mechanisms of surveying, mapping and naming. Thanks to advancements in 3D mapping technology, countries can visualize the once murky depths of the high seas into ever clearer topographical features. Once a topographical feature is identified, a country can submit a naming proposal to the International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO) to be reviewed by their 100 member states. The rate of naming sections of the seafloor has increased from 17 names per year in the 20th century to 95 names per year on average since 2000.  (The Guardian)

Why does this matter? Naming the seabed is a geopolitical act, in so doing, countries assert a sovereign control over underwater territories and their potential resources. Ocean beds are rich in mineral deposits and as countries seek resource security for the green transition, interest in claiming seabeds has surged. Proponents of deep-sea mining (DSM) argue that the seabed holds the planet's richest mineral deposits, offering a less disruptive means of supporting green infrastructure. However, DSM faces strong opposition due to environmental concerns. DSM threatens marine habitats, reducing their ability to sequester carbon, while sediment plumes and high noise levels pose risks to marine mammals that rely on sound for communication.  

Mineral extraction – Valuable minerals can be extracted from the ocean floor through DSM, which typically occurs at depths exceeding 200 metres. It targets polymetallic nodules rich in copper, cobalt, nickel and manganese, essential for green technologies like electric vehicle (EV) batteries and wind turbines. Major deposits have been found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Specialised machines equipped with hydraulic systems collect these nodules, while remotely operated vehicles and autonomous underwater vehicles use multibeam sonar and high-resolution imaging to map the seabed and guide extraction.  

Governing the high seas – The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is an autonomous international organisation established under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The ISA has 168 member states and governs the "public common good" of international seabeds. It is responsible for regulating DSM  in international waters. The organisation underwent a leadership transition in  August, with Leticia Carvalho elected secretary-general. Carvalho, an oceanographer, brings a strong conservationist perspective, advocating the prioritisation of environmental protections in DSM activities. Carvalho’s leadership could delay the approval of DSM regulations until environmental threats are adequately assessed, such as damage to carbon-sequestering ecosystems and threats to marine biodiversity. Her leadership signals a cautious approach in contrast to the pro-mining stance of her predecessor, Michael Lodge.

Norway’s first foray into DSM – Norway has become the first country to approve deep-sea mining (DSM) within its national waters, auctioning 386 seabed blocks rich in critical minerals located in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) between Svalbard, Iceland and the mainland. While Norway highlights the importance of these resources for the energy transition, environmental groups like World Wide Fund (WWF) – Norway and Greenpeace are concerned about harm to marine ecosystems, particularly deep-sea species that grow slowly, mature late and have low fertility – these ecosystems are inherently vulnerable to disturbance. The DSM zone is home to twelve marine mammals, including whales, orcas, narwhals, dolphins and seals. Consequently, the WWF is taking the government to court on 28 November  for violating the Seabed Minerals Act, due to insufficient baseline biodiversity data. Depending on the outcome of this court case it could set a precedent for DSM going forwards.