Updated

Mongabay reported on November 10, 2026, that a surge of claim applications for mineral exploration and exploitation in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean has been filed with the United States. The zone is a stretch of deep sea regulated by the International Seabed Authority, a UN-associated body that is responsible for granting seabed mining permits in international waters. The investigation, by Elizabeth Claire Alberts and Andrés Alegría, says the US is receiving and reviewing applications from some companies under US law rather than the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, under which the ISA was established. The US signed but never ratified that convention and is not a member of the ISA. Mongabay's podcast said the investigation found that applications and granted rights covered roughly half the area the ISA has designated for mining, and that a US executive order issued by President Donald Trump is part of the justification. Alberts said the US does not believe it is bypassing the ISA's authority. The legal consequences are unclear. The ISA is seeking outside legal counsel on how to handle areas it oversees that are now subject to US claims, and Alberts said it is not clear whether the US could face court action over breaking international law. Mongabay also reported that the polymetallic nodules sought by mining companies, which contain minerals used in technology products, are still being studied for their importance to seabed ecosystems. Critics say they should be left in place, while mining companies see them as resources. Alberts said the nodules have been there for millions of years and some species depend on them.