Deep Seabed Mining & International Law: Is a Precautionary Pause Required

Deep-sea mining in the world's global commons has become a topic of intense debate, with a growing call for a moratorium or a precautionary pause until the environmental and social impacts are better understood. Governments, NGOs, and companies are all weighing in on this issue, which has significant potential implications for the future of our planet. Should states and companies prioritise precautionary measures before engaging in commercial exploitation of the deep seabed? What specific precautionary measures should be implemented in this regard? If a precautionary pause is deemed necessary, what additional collaborative measures should member states take, in accordance with UNCLOS, to enhance scientific knowledge and establish a robust framework for responsible exploitation of deep-sea resources? The event explored the key legal, environmental, and social implications of deep-sea mining and whether international law requires implementing a moratorium or a precautionary pause on deep-sea mining until social and environmental implications are better understood. Chair: Ingrid Gubbay, European Head of Human Rights and Environmental Law at Hausfeld, Visiting Research Fellow, BIICL Speakers: Monica Feria-Tinta, Barrister, Twenty Essex Toby Fisher, Barrister Matrix Chambers, Former Deputy Director, International Law at New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade Associate Prof. Dr Aline Jaeckel, Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources & Security, University of Wollongong This event was convened by Dr Constantinos Yiallourides, Research Leader in the Law of the Sea, BIICL; Ingrid Gubbay, Visiting Research Fellow, BIICL; and Dr Jean-Pierre Gauci, Arthur Watts Senior Fellow in Public International Law, BIICL.