The Trump administration could green-light deep-sea mining for the first time

The Verge - Mar 28th, 2025
Open on The Verge

The Metals Company (TMC) has announced plans to collaborate with the Trump administration to gain permits for deep-sea mining in international waters. After meeting with White House officials, TMC aims to utilize existing US mining codes, bypassing the multilateral regulations still under discussion by the International Seabed Authority (ISA). This move has drawn criticism from environmental groups and countries advocating for a moratorium on deep-sea mining until comprehensive regulations are established. Concerns center around potential ecological impacts, as the deep sea remains largely unexplored and poorly understood.

The backdrop to TMC's actions includes President Trump's agenda to relax environmental regulations, which may facilitate TMC's ambitions. Opponents argue that such unilateral efforts undermine international cooperation and could set a precedent for future resource extraction in sensitive ecosystems. Adding to the controversy are recent scientific findings, challenging conventional understanding of deep-sea processes, and raising alarms about the unforeseen consequences of mining activities, especially as these areas play a crucial role in global biodiversity and climate regulation.

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RATING

6.2
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article provides a comprehensive overview of the controversial issue of deep-sea mining, focusing on The Metals Company's efforts to seek U.S. approval and the potential environmental and geopolitical implications. It effectively highlights the tension between economic interests and environmental conservation, making it a timely and relevant piece.

While the article maintains factual accuracy and clarity, it could benefit from more detailed verification and transparency regarding its sources and claims. The balance of perspectives could also be improved by including more viewpoints from proponents of deep-sea mining.

Overall, the article successfully engages with a significant public interest topic, offering insights into the complex dynamics at play in the deep-sea mining debate. Its potential impact on public opinion and policy discussions makes it a valuable contribution to ongoing conversations about sustainable resource management and environmental protection.

RATING DETAILS

7
Accuracy

The news story presents several factual claims that align with known events, such as The Metals Company's (TMC) efforts to seek U.S. approval for deep-sea mining and the U.S. not ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). These points are consistent with historical records and international law discussions. However, the article's assertion that TMC's meeting with the White House and its subsequent plans to apply for permits under existing U.S. mining code need verification. The claim that TMC is circumventing international processes by engaging with the Trump administration is significant but requires more corroboration.

The story mentions environmental concerns related to deep-sea mining, citing scientists' fears of irreversible damage. While these concerns are widely acknowledged in the scientific community, the article does not provide specific studies or data to support these claims directly. Additionally, the mention of 'dark oxygen' and its controversial nature lacks direct citation, which affects the story's precision.

Overall, the article generally maintains factual accuracy but would benefit from more detailed verification and direct references to support some of its claims, particularly those regarding legal processes and environmental impacts.

6
Balance

The article predominantly focuses on the potential negative impacts of deep-sea mining and the controversial nature of TMC's actions. It includes perspectives from environmental groups and critics, such as Emma Wilson from the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, highlighting opposition to TMC's approach. However, the article does not provide substantial space for counterarguments or perspectives from TMC or other proponents of deep-sea mining.

While TMC's CEO Gerard Barron is quoted regarding the company's compliance with international law, the article could be more balanced by including more detailed reasoning from TMC or other industry experts who support deep-sea mining. This would provide a more rounded view of the debate, including potential economic and strategic benefits.

The story leans towards highlighting the risks and controversies without equally presenting the arguments in favor of deep-sea mining, which affects the balance of perspectives.

7
Clarity

The article is generally clear in its language and structure, presenting a coherent narrative about The Metals Company's actions and the surrounding controversy. It effectively outlines the key issues, such as the potential environmental impact of deep-sea mining and the political dynamics involving the Trump administration.

However, the article occasionally assumes prior knowledge of certain terms and processes, such as the specifics of international law regarding deep-sea mining, which might confuse readers unfamiliar with the topic. Additionally, the article could benefit from more explicit definitions or explanations of technical terms like 'dark oxygen.'

Despite these minor issues, the overall tone is neutral, and the logical flow of information helps maintain clarity, making the article accessible to a general audience.

5
Source quality

The article references various entities such as The Metals Company, the International Seabed Authority, and environmental groups, which are relevant and authoritative sources in the context of deep-sea mining. However, it lacks direct citations from primary documents or official statements that could enhance its credibility.

The story includes statements from TMC's CEO and environmental groups, but it does not specify the sources of some claims, such as the alleged meeting with White House officials or the 'drafts' of an executive order. This lack of direct attribution weakens the reliability of these claims.

Improving the source quality would involve providing more explicit references or links to official documents, studies, or statements that corroborate the article's claims, enhancing the overall credibility and reliability of the reporting.

6
Transparency

The article provides a general overview of the context surrounding deep-sea mining and the involvement of The Metals Company, but it lacks detailed transparency regarding its sources and the basis for some of its claims. For instance, while it mentions TMC's announcement and the reaction from environmental groups, it does not clearly outline the methodology or specific data supporting these reactions.

The story does not disclose potential conflicts of interest or biases that could influence the reporting. It would benefit from a clearer explanation of how the information was gathered and the context in which certain statements were made, such as the legal review mentioned by TMC's CEO.

Overall, the article offers some context but lacks in-depth transparency about its sources and the processes behind the claims, which could help readers better understand the basis of the information presented.

Sources

  1. https://financialpost.com/commodities/mining/vancouver-explorer-seeks-nod-to-mine-metals
  2. https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/world/environment-news/69282/deep-sea-mining-critical-minerals
  3. https://news.mongabay.com/2025/03/deep-sea-miner-tmc-seeks-u-s-approval-potentially-bypassing-global-regulator/
  4. https://www.mining.com/video/trump-is-the-best-news-for-deep-sea-mining-the-metals-company-ceo/
  5. https://san.com/cc/international-law-doesnt-allow-deep-sea-mining-but-trump-admin-may-permit-it/