Deep-Sea Mining
The Trump administration is pushing forward with deep-sea mining plans in the western Pacific, nearly doubling the proposed area around American Samoa and targeting waters near the Marianas Trench for the first time. This move has drawn strong opposition from Indigenous leaders concerned about impacts on fisheries and culture. Despite calls for consent, the federal government is proceeding with an environmental review.
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A new study warns that proposed deep-sea mining could endanger 30 species of sharks, rays, and chimaeras whose habitats overlap with mining zones. Nearly two-thirds of these species are already threatened with extinction from human impacts. Researchers from the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa highlight risks from seafloor disruptions and sediment plumes.