New Caledonia introduces 50-year ban on deep sea mining over 1.3 million square kilometres
New Caledonia's congress has approved a deep sea mining moratorium for 50 years in its Exclusive Economic Zone of 1.3 million square kilometres.
The moratorium prohibits exploration for mining purposes and bans all exploitation of the seabed, but scientific research will be encouraged to better understand deep sea mining and the impacted ocean areas.
The country is home to one of the largest nickel industries in the world, a mineral that is also extracted from the seabed.
The announcement of the ban coincides with US President Donald Trump's executive order announcement that deep sea mining projects should be fast-tracked and explored.
The New Caledonia government said it was a coincidence as it's been discussing a moratorium for two years.
Jérémie Katidjo Monnier, the New Caledonian Environment Minister, said the 50-year ban was imposed to protect the exceptional marine area, which is home to over 9,000 species living on its coral reef.
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