US Seabed Claims in Pacific Now Match ISA’s Entire Licence Zone
American firms have staked claims covering 962,634 km² of the Clarion-Clipperton Zone.
The United States is accelerating its push to mine the deep sea, with recent applications covering areas that now rival the scale of licenses issued by the International Seabed Authority (ISA) over the past quarter-century.
A Mongabay analysis reveals that U.S. companies have either applied for or been granted rights to seabed zones in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), a mineral-rich region of the Pacific Ocean between Mexico and Hawai‘i, equivalent to roughly half the area already designated for mining by the ISA. While the ISA has spent 25 years issuing exploration licenses, most U.S. applications have emerged in just the last 18 months.
The expansion of U.S. claims has raised concerns due to significant overlaps with existing ISA-licensed areas, as well as zones reserved for future mining and developing nations. Some U.S. applicants are even competing for the same seabed regions, creating further complications. These conflicts highlight unresolved questions about jurisdiction over international waters, which are considered global commons beyond any single nation’s control.
Overlapping claims and legal tensions: deep-sea mining
Legal experts warn that unilateral U.S. actions could undermine long-standing multilateral ocean governance. Lori Osmundsen, an independent environmental attorney based in Seattle, criticized the potential issuance of commercial recovery permits by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), stating it would be “a direct affront to multilateral ocean governance” and the international legal system. She argued that such moves imply the U.S. believes it can act independently of global repercussions.
NOAA, however, maintains that deep-sea mining falls under high seas freedoms, provided other nations’ interests are respected. Kim Doster, NOAA’s communications director, cited the 1980 Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act as legal justification, noting that experts have had decades to study the issue.
Environmental risks and global opposition
The rush to mine the deep sea has drawn sharp criticism from scientists and environmental groups. The ISA has designated 13 Areas of Particular Environmental Interest (APEIs) to protect biodiversity, but some U.S. claims now encroach on these zones. Researchers warn that deep-sea mining could devastate ecosystems that have evolved over millennia, with recent expeditions documenting fragile species like sea cucumbers at depths of 5,000 meters (16,400 feet).
Forty-six countries have called for a moratorium on deep-sea mining, citing insufficient research and the lack of international regulations. Yet the U.S. shows no signs of halting its efforts. The next critical moment may come in 2027, when the ISA is expected to finalize its mining code. If the U.S. issues commercial recovery permits before then, it could trigger an early start to an industry that has yet to begin anywhere in the world.
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