Deep-sea mining in the Pacific, including areas near Samoa, could be detrimental to the environment, according to a research paper prepared by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). The United States plans a US$20 million seabed survey off American Samoa in 2026 to map critical minerals. The next step would be accessing and extracting them.
Samoa, which is close to American Samoa, could be vulnerable to the environmental impacts of this work. The paper by SPREP reviews known environmental issues and challenges of deep-sea mining in the region, highlights these risks and urges caution.
Original Article: Seabed mining poses dangers to the Pacific: Report
