In the ocean depths off the South Pacific archipelago of New Caledonia, a vast array of marine species thrive in ecosystems found nowhere else.
Deep-sea areas—200 meters (656 feet) or more below the ocean’s surface—contain abundant biodiversity, including, scientists say, numerous marine species that have yet to be discovered, along with remarkable geologic features. Aside from providing vital habitat for species ranging from cold-water corals to deep-sea crustaceans, the seabed floor also contains precious mineral and rare earths deposits that some governments and private companies are interested in extracting for commercial use, including to produce battery components for electric cars.
But mining the seabed would threaten marine biodiversity, so to protect these natural resources and the marine environment, New Caledonia government adopted a 50-year moratorium on deep-seabed mining within its waters on April 29. This action will prevent all exploration and extraction of deep-sea resources in New Caledonia’s 1.3 million square kilometer (501,932 square mile) Natural Park of the Coral Sea—which covers the country’s entire exclusive economic zone. The new law also establishes penalties for any violations of the moratorium, including fines to deter illegal activity.
The scientific community has remained cautious of seabed mining, with hundreds of scientists calling for a precautionary pause on the activity globally. Recent research has cited a host of threats to marine life from deep-seabed mining, including high noise levels, sediment plumes, potential destruction of seamounts and hydrothermal vents, and light pollution. Any one of these threats is significant on its own and could have potentially devastating effects on deep-sea ecosystems.
New Caledonia's commitment to a 50-year moratorium on seabed mining signals that the government is taking precautions to protect its unique marine ecosystem while scientists work to better understand the ecological values of the deep sea and the long-term impacts of mining and extraction.
New Caledonia joins Guam, Palau, and American Samoa in declaring moratoriums in their waters in the Pacific.
Further, New Caledonia’s action adds momentum to the ongoing effort to achieve broader protections within the Natural Park of the Coral Sea, including by integrating the local Kanak communities’ vision to protect the ocean and enhanced safeguards for seamounts and other areas of cultural importance.
Since the Natural Park of the Coral Sea was designated in 2014, Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy has collaborated with New Caledonia’s government, the private sector, local organizations, and Kanak communities to increase protections within the park’s borders and to establish effective management. The government has highly protected 10% of the park from fishing and other extractive activities, such as mining and drilling, and has ambitions to increase the percentage of highly protected waters within the park to 30%.
The passage of the mining moratorium shows that New Caledonia is serious about marine conservation. By further safeguarding these waters through science-based, community-supported approaches, the government could establish itself as a global leader in natural and cultural conservation.
Christophe Chevillon leads Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy’s work in New Caledonia.