Kenya Joins 42 Nations Demanding Halt to Deep-Sea Mining Amid Environmental Fears
Kenya has thrown its weight behind growing international calls for a global moratorium on deep seabed mining, warning that the race to extract valuable minerals from the ocean floor is moving faster than the science and regulations needed to protect fragile marine ecosystems.
The announcement was made on Wednesday, June 17, during discussions on deep-sea governance at the 11th Our Oceans Conference in Mombasa, where policymakers, environmental experts and conservation groups gathered to address emerging threats facing the world’s oceans.
Kenya’s decision places it among 42 countries that have endorsed a precautionary pause or outright moratorium on deep seabed mining until scientists can fully assess the environmental consequences of industrial activity in some of the least explored regions on Earth.
Deep seabed mining involves the extraction of mineral-rich nodules scattered across the ocean floor at depths of between 4,000 and 6,000 metres. These potato-sized deposits contain valuable metals such as manganese, nickel, cobalt, copper and rare earth elements, which are increasingly sought after for the production of electric vehicle batteries, smartphones, solar panels and wind turbines.
However, experts have repeatedly cautioned that the environmental costs of mining the deep ocean remain largely unknown.
Speaking at the conference, Principal Secretary for Mining Harry Kimtai said the global push toward deep-sea mineral extraction was advancing at a pace that far exceeded the development of safeguards needed to regulate the industry.
“The interest in deep seabed mining is advancing faster than the architecture that guides it,” Kimtai said.
He added that Kenya would continue supporting international efforts to halt commercial mining activities until sufficient scientific evidence is available.
“That is why Kenya is lending its voice to calls for a precautionary pause on deep-seabed mining until there is sufficient science to support evidence-based decisions. We are yet to get there. We support the precautionary pause,” he stated.
Scientists and environmental organisations have warned that mining operations thousands of metres below the ocean’s surface could irreversibly damage ecosystems that have evolved over millions of years.
Concerns include the destruction of unique marine habitats, disruption of slow-growing species and the creation of massive sediment plumes that could spread far beyond mining zones, potentially affecting marine life across large areas of the ocean.
Conservation groups argue that because vast portions of the deep sea remain unexplored, governments risk authorising industrial activities without fully understanding the consequences.
Kenya says its position is rooted in scientific caution.
Kimtai noted that while the country has made significant progress in geospatial mapping and marine resource assessment, it has not yet embarked on offshore seabed exploration. He argued that this makes it even more important for policymakers to rely on science before approving any future mining activities.
The Principal Secretary also called for increased investment in marine research to close critical knowledge gaps and urged countries to embrace circular economy strategies, including recycling and responsible resource use, as alternatives to exploiting the deep ocean.
Environmental groups welcomed Kenya’s stance, describing it as a significant step toward protecting marine biodiversity.
WWF-Kenya Chief Executive Officer Jackson Kiplagat praised the government’s decision, saying it demonstrated leadership at a time when pressure is mounting to open the deep sea to commercial extraction.
“The government has demonstrated leadership by putting science first and strengthening multilateral cooperation through joining the growing coalition of nations committed to ensuring that the protection of the marine environment remains at the heart of all decisions concerning the deep sea,” Kiplagat said.
As international debate over deep seabed mining intensifies, Kenya’s decision adds momentum to a growing global movement demanding stronger scientific evidence before industrial activity is allowed to proceed in one of the planet’s last largely untouched frontiers.
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