A rush to exploit deep-sea minerals is underway after a Trump executive order fast-tracked permits. Companies are planning mining operations in the Pacific Ocean, while environmentalists and scientists warn of irreversible damage to marine ecosystems.
- Trump's executive order directed agencies to streamline deep-sea mining permits. - Several companies have announced plans to mine polymetallic nodules in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone.
- The International Seabed Authority is accelerating permit reviews. - Environmental groups plan legal challenges, citing unknown ecological impacts.
The debate highlights tensions between economic interests and environmental protection, as the first mining vessels prepare to deploy.