Interest in deep-sea mining has increased globally in recent years. And even as the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the U.N. body responsible for overseeing the activity in international waters, continues to deliberate its regulatory framework, companies seek out loopholes to get their projects underway. In Brazil, a study carried out by the Mining Observatory, a […]
  • Applications for deep-sea mining permits in Brazil have soared in recent years: of the 950 requests filed since 1967, nearly half were submitted between 2020 and 2024.
  • Demand for key minerals used in the clean energy transition, as well as geopolitical uncertainties, are driving the race to the seabed.
  • Loopholes in Brazilian legislation are allowing mining companies to work without environmental licensing, a situation made worse by the lack of specific rules for deep-sea mining.
  • Researchers warn that the lack of environmental impact studies could have widespread impacts on marine ecosystems, especially on coral reef biodiversity.