The Trump administration is considering allowing deep-sea mining for the first time, a move that could have catastrophic environmental consequences. The Metals Company (TMC), a deep-sea mining company, has met with White House officials and plans to apply for permits under existing US mining code to extract minerals from the high seas. This development has sparked outrage among environmental groups, scientists, and policymakers who warn of the potential damage to ocean ecosystems and coastal communities.

The news comes as the International Seabed Authority (ISA) is still developing rules for deep-sea mining, a process that has been slow-going due to the lack of scientific understanding of the deep sea. The ISA was established by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which has been ratified by over 160 countries, but not the United States. The Trump administration's potential support for deep-sea mining could undermine international efforts to regulate the industry.

TMC's move to seek permits under US law has been criticized by environmental groups, who argue that the company is attempting to circumvent the multilateral process. "The Metals Company is crossing a dangerous line by flirting with a breach of international law and a disruption of multilateralism," said Emma Wilson, a policy officer at the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition. The coalition, along with over 30 countries, is pushing for a ban or moratorium on deep-sea mining until rules are in place to minimize the potential damage.

Scientists have only recently made stunning discoveries about the deep sea, including the existence of "dark oxygen" rising from the abyssal seafloor. This research, which was initially funded by TMC, suggests that there may be a previously unknown process for producing oxygen, raising questions about how much life on Earth depends on that process and whether deep-sea mining might interfere with it. Other recent studies have found that deep-sea mining could lead to "irreversible" damage and noise loud enough to make it difficult for whales and other sea creatures to communicate.

TMC claims that its own data shows that deep-sea mining would be less damaging than mining on land, but environmental groups and scientists remain skeptical. The company's CEO, Gerard Barron, said in a press release that TMC remains fully compliant with international law, but critics argue that the company is trying to exploit a loophole in the system.

The Trump administration's potential support for deep-sea mining is seen as part of a broader effort to roll back environmental protections and promote extractive industries. According to The New York Times, drafts are circulating of an executive order that would support mining in international waters on the basis that the US hasn't ratified the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The implications of deep-sea mining are far-reaching and could have devastating consequences for the environment and coastal communities. As the ISA continues to develop rules for the industry, it is essential that the international community resists efforts to undermine multilateralism and prioritizes the protection of the world's oceans.

In conclusion, the Trump administration's potential greenlighting of deep-sea mining is a worrying development that could have catastrophic environmental consequences. As the world grapples with the challenges of climate change, it is essential that we prioritize the protection of the world's oceans and resist efforts to exploit them for short-term gain.