Manganese nodules on the seafloor in the Clarion-Clipperton zone that’s been considered for deep-sea mining. Image Credit: ROV KIEL 6000, GEOMAR – Geomar Bilddatenbank via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)
Environment AfricaSupport Grows for Deep-Sea Mining Pause
Six African countries now support pausing deep-seabed mining until they better understand its environmental, social and economic impacts, strengthening efforts to protect ocean ecosystems.
“The sustainable development of Mauritius is inextricably dependent on a healthy and resilient ocean,” the government of Mauritius said during a meeting of the International Seabed Authority.
Mauritius, Mozambique and the Republic of the Congo joined Malawi, Kenya and Madagascar in backing a precautionary pause, with Malawi becoming the first African country to do so in May 2026. They are now among 46 countries worldwide supporting a moratorium or pause. With African nations holding 10 seats on the 36-member International Seabed Authority Council, the continent has growing influence over rules governing any future extraction of minerals such as nickel, cobalt and manganese from the deep ocean floor.
