Deep-sea mining mustn’t go ahead until there are baseline data
-
-
Bluesky
-
-
-
-
-
X
Access through your institution
Buy or subscribe
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration now allows companies to apply for exploration and commercial mining through a consolidated process. This seems to be downplaying the importance of environmental baseline data at a time when the International Seabed Authority is still reviewing requirements under its draft Mining Act.
Access options
Access through your institution
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
$32.99 / 30 days
cancel any time
Learn more
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Learn more
Rent or buy this article
Prices vary by article type
from$1.95
to$39.95
Learn more
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Nature 652, 828 (2026)
doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-01215-2
Competing Interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Related Articles
-
A message from island leaders: protect the Pacific Ocean from deep-sea mining
-
Why we should protect the high seas from all extraction, forever
-
To save the high seas, plan for climate change
-
States now have a legal duty to prevent climate harm — justice is in reach
Subjects
-
Ocean sciences
-
Environmental sciences
-
Sustainability
-
Policy
Latest on:
-
Ocean sciences
-
Environmental sciences
-
Sustainability
-
Sunken Soviet nuclear submarine’s radioactive release
Research Highlight 27 MAR 26
-
Chemical pollutants are rife across the world’s oceans
Research Highlight 20 MAR 26
-
Climate snapshots trapped in ancient ice tell a surprising story
News & Views 18 MAR 26
-
Satellite imagery reveals increasing volatility in human night-time activity
Article 08 APR 26
-
Substantial aircraft contrail formation at low soot emission levels
Article 01 APR 26
-
History of ‘forever’ chemicals is written in Antarctic snow
Research Highlight 26 MAR 26
-
Schrödinger’s carbon’: The misclassification of carbon capture and storage as standard mitigation
Correspondence 31 MAR 26
-
How buildings and cities can be aligned with life
Comment 30 MAR 26
-
Salt lakes are shrinking and expanding, causing havoc in conservation
Correspondence 24 MAR 26
Jobs
-
Associate or Senior Editor, Nature Communications (Cardiovascular biology and disease)
Job Title: Associate or Senior Editor, Nature Communications (Cardiovascular biology and disease) Location: Shanghai, Beijing, or Pune, Hybri...
Shanghai, Beijing, or Pune, Hybrid Working Model
Springer Nature Ltd
-
Senior AMO Physicist
Nu Quantum are seeking applications for a Senior AMO Physicist
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire (GB)
Nu Quantum
-
Head of Quantum Hardware
Nu Quantum are seeking applications for a Head of Quantum Hardware
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire (GB)
Nu Quantum
-
Postdoc - Systems Neuroscience in Neurodegeneration
We are looking for a neuroscientist/engineer as a Postdoc to investigate neural circuit dysfunction driving ALS/FTD.
Innsbruck (AT)
Medical University Innsbruck
-
Open Research Support Intern
Title: Open Research Support Intern Locations: Beijing About Springer Nature Springer Nature is one of the leading publishers of research in the ...
Beijing, (CN)
Springer Nature Ltd