Esme Stallard
Climate and science correspondent
Fromun Oceans Conference, Nice, FranceGetty Images
The UN chief warns that unregulated deep sea mining should not be allowed to move forward.
“The deep sea cannot be wild west,” said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the establishment of the UN Maritime Conference in Nice, France.
His words were echoed by French President Emmanuel Macron, declaring that “the sea is not for sale.”
The statement appears to refer to President Trump’s decision in April to issue permission to extract important minerals in international waters.
There is growing interest in extracting valuable minerals from what is naturally occurring on the seabed, known as metallic “nodules.”
However, marine scientists are concerned about the harm that could be caused.
“The ocean is not on sale. We’re talking about normal shared profits,” Macron said. “I think it’s insane to launch predatory economic actions that disrupt the deep seabed, disrupt and destroy biodiversity.”
This issue is one of the number of French agendas: overfishing, plastic pollution, climate change, and more.
More than 2,000 scientists met last week to review the latest data on marine health. They recommended the government this week to halt deep ocean exploration and conduct further research into its impact.
Over 30 countries have supported this position and called for a suspension, but President Trump is not rowdy about the executive order.
Our Marine Treaty
The key objective of the United Nations Maritime Conference, which will be held until Friday, is to ratify and implement the high seas treaty of 60 countries.
The agreement was made two years ago to put 30% of the international waters into marine reserves (MPAs) by 2030.
In his opening speech, Macron declared that an additional 15 had been ratified, but the total number was only 47.
The UK government has not yet ratified the agreement, but on Monday said bans on “destructive” types of fishing at the bottom that drag large nets along the seabed can be extended at the UK MPA.
Even if enough countries are signed, there is concern from environmentalists, including Sir David Attenborough, and there is nothing clear about the treaty banning bottom trolls in these MPAs.
Bottom trawls are one of the more destructive fishing practices that can lead to accidental killing of larger marine species.
