UN Begins Accepting Deep-Sea Mining Applications in July

The International Seabed Authority will begin accepting applications from companies for deep-sea mining in July, allowing them to extract cobalt, copper, nickel, and manganese from the ocean's floor. The decision has been met with opposition from environmental groups, who are concerned about the impact on wildlife and the lack of scientific data. China is a leader in deep-sea mining exploration, but other nations have called for a global moratorium on the practice.