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Review
. 2025;4(1):21.
doi: 10.1038/s44183-025-00127-4. Epub 2025 May 10.

The false promise of deep-sea mining

Justin Alger  1 , Jessica F Green  2 , Kate J Neville  2 , Susan Park  3 , Stacy D VanDeveer  4 , D G Webster  5
Affiliations
Review

The false promise of deep-sea mining

Justin Alger et al. NPJ Ocean Sustain. 2025.

Abstract

Deep-sea mining of the international seabed could begin soon, despite concerns about its ecological consequences. We join others calling for a ban on international seabed mining, but for a different reason: it is a multi-billion-dollar solution to problems that do not exist. We refute three pro-extraction arguments-about (1) mineral scarcity, (2) social benefits, and (3) economic benefits-that misrepresent the state of the mining industry and mineral supply chains.

Keywords: Economics; Environmental studies.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interestsThe authors declare no competing interests.

References

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