An executive order that American Samoa Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga issued places a moratorium on seabed mining in the waters of American Samoa.
The moratorium applies to the mining, extracting, or removal of minerals.
The order cites that deep sea mining poses significant risks to marine biodiversity, including the potential for habitat destruction, pollution, and the disruption of critical ecological processes, which could have irreversible impacts on marine life and local communities;
It also notes that, deep-sea ecosystems remain among the least-understood places on earth and support vital ocean ecosystem elements such as fish stocks, coral reefs, and ecosystem functions, including water temperature regulation, carbon sequestration, and nutrient cycling.
Additionally, there is insufficient scientific information and technological development to understand the full scope of potential impacts of seabed mining, and technologies for extracting minerals from the ocean floor remain untested in terms of environmental safety.
The Governor said the moratorium shall not be construed to prohibit scientific research or collections conducted by, or on behalf of, an educational, scientific, or a research institution or a government agency. Any such research activity shall be subject to local laws, regulations, and permitting requirements.
He added that during this moratorium, American Samoa will advocate for the advancement of marine research, the development of sustainable ocean policies, and the promotion of local and international cooperation in the sustainable management of marine resources.
Meanwhile, Greenpeace USA has welcomed American Samoa’s decision to impose a moratorium on seabed mining in its waters.
It said Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga’s order underscores the severe risk of deep-sea mining, including threats to marine biodiversity, habitat destruction, pollution, and disruption of essential ecological processes – all of which could have lasting and irreversible effects on marine life and local communities.
Arlo Hemphill, Greenpeace USA Oceans Are Life campaign lead, said, “The Governor’s action is a powerful statement against the risks of deep sea mining. It’s a clear example of the kind of leadership we need to protect our oceans. We urge the Biden-Harris Administration to act decisively by joining the growing global movement against deep sea mining. Now is the time to support the call for a global moratorium, prioritize investments into sustainable alternatives, and reinforce protections for our oceans.”
American Samoa joins Hawaii, California, and several other states in establishing their own ban or restrictions on mining in their waters.
U.S House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Rep. Ed Case (D-Hawaii), alongside a dozen House Democrats, have urged President Biden to support a moratorium on deep sea mining, stressing the need for robust scientific evaluation before any mining activities proceed.
In July 2023, Rep Case introduced two measures calling for a moratorium on deep seabed mining unless and until its consequences are fully understood and an appropriate protective regulatory regime is established