Marine mining: Digging deep for minerals

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  Quantumrun Foresight
• January 24, 2025

Insight summary

Rising interest in resource extraction from the ocean floor is capturing global attention, fueling new discussions about supply chains and sustainable energy. Marine mining may stabilize metal availability and create specialized jobs, but it also pushes governments and industries to weigh environmental responsibilities carefully. Companies, agencies, and local communities each explore the possible benefits and challenges as the demand for cleaner energy grows.

Marine mining context

Marine mining, also known as deep-sea mining, extracts minerals and metals at depths exceeding 200 meters. This activity involves gathering polymetallic nodules, cobalt-rich crusts, or deposits around hydrothermal vents that often hold nickel, copper, manganese, and cobalt. Many of these minerals are critical for building electric car batteries, wind turbines, and solar panels, which are increasingly in demand for clean energy solutions. In 2021, the Pacific island state of Nauru launched a process for the International Seabed Authority to finalize regulations, highlighting the accelerating interest in marine mining worldwide. 

Marine mining operations typically deploy large collector vehicles that suction or scoop nodules and sediment from the seabed, then transfer the slurry to support vessels for sorting and storage. In 2023, the Canadian startup The Metals Company conducted a test run and reportedly harvested 3,000 metric tons of nodules from the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, a Pacific seabed area nearly as wide as the continental US. Meanwhile, according to the International Seabed Authority, several governments, including India, China, and Norway, have received exploration contracts to investigate the viability of deep-sea mining in their waters. 

Developments in this field have prompted global debate, with 31 countries calling for suspensions or bans until the full scope of environmental impacts is better understood. Activist groups and major corporations like BMW, Volvo, and Renault have urged caution about damaging deep-sea biodiversity. Additionally, some argue that such projects might not actually replace land-based mining, where deforestation and child labor in locations such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo remain critical concerns. However, the International Energy Agency maintains that to meet climate goals, the global supply of metals may need to grow to four times its current level, though experts emphasize that more efficient recycling and improved terrestrial mining practices are also vital. 

Disruptive impact

Individuals may notice shifts in consumer product pricing, particularly for electronics and electric vehicles because greater metal extraction could stabilize supply. In addition, the job market might introduce new ocean-based roles for geologists, remotely operated vehicle operators, and environmental monitors. Furthermore, the public might invest in educational programs that explain oceanic resource extraction and its risks. Individuals could then weigh those insights when deciding what to purchase or which companies to support.

Companies may diversify supply chains by teaming up with deep-sea exploration firms to reduce reliance on scarce metals from conflict-prone regions. Additionally, they could develop specialized vessels and remote operating technologies to streamline undersea extraction, boosting sectors that provide maritime equipment. Brand reputations may hinge on transparent sourcing, prompting some businesses to publicly reveal their ocean resource procurement. Insurance providers could also offer tailored policies to address the risks of working far offshore, leading to new financial products. 

Meanwhile, governments may adopt stricter regulations that define environmental boundaries, requiring detailed assessments before granting permits. In addition, officials could collaborate on treaties to manage conflicts over seafloor territories and ensure fair resource sharing. Funding might shift toward research on sustainable extraction methods, with public agencies backing studies that measure social and ecological effects. Local authorities could also create training programs that help workers transition into marine-related roles, aiming to boost long-term employment in coastal communities. 

Implications of marine mining

Wider implications of marine mining may include: 

• Companies forming specialized ocean-based data platforms to assess resource availability, prompting new investment partnerships.
• Academic institutions adding advanced courses focused on deep-sea extraction, producing a skilled workforce dedicated to ocean industries.
• Governments crafting licensing frameworks that limit over-harvesting, motivating international treaties for open-water resource management.
• Local fishing communities seeking fair compensation deals, preventing tensions and boosting regional cooperation.
• Firms experimenting with equipment to handle extreme undersea pressures, bringing about fresh research into submersible engineering.
• Geopolitical rivalries over seabed territories intensifying, driving countries to establish arbitration protocols that avoid escalation.
• Technology developers building enhanced remote-operated vehicles, appealing to logistics companies that manage complex offshore supply lines.
• Energy corporations mapping ways to combine undersea resource extraction with floating power stations, encouraging diverse marine infrastructure projects.

Questions to consider

• How might new careers and educational paths develop in response to underwater resource extraction?
• Which personal values might you rethink as industries explore the ocean floor for minerals?