New Caledonia enacted a 50‐year ban on all commercial seabed mining.
- Rodrigo Batalha
- Jun 13
- 5 min read
In May 2025, New Caledonia enacted a 50‐year ban on all commercial seabed mining within its maritime zone, citing concerns over long‐term ecosystem health and the precautionary principle (RFI). This decision aligns with a growing body of peer‐reviewed research warning that deep‐sea mining (DSM) poses significant, potentially irreversible risks to biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and carbon cycling. Below, we synthesize key scientific findings and connect them to New Caledonia’s moratorium.
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