The Risks of Rushing Deep-Sea Mining Regulations and its Ecological Impact

The International Seabed Authority is facing a deadline to finalize rules governing deep-sea mining, but opponents argue that the rush to open the seafloor in international waters could be a damaging decision that's impossible to reverse. Proponents say that deep-sea mining is a less damaging way to gather metals like nickel, copper, manganese, and cobalt, which are essential in batteries and electrical infrastructure. However, critics say there is not enough information to make that kind of decision, and deep-sea creatures have adapted over millions of years to living in a dark, quiet place with little sediment.