ARCTICMINER · Deep-Sea Mining on Continental Shelves: Environmental Stakes and Clash of Interests on the High Seas

ARCTICMINER addresses a knowledge gap on the protection of the marine environment during the deep-sea mining on continental shelves. In 2024, Norway opened 280,000 km² of its Arctic continental shelf (CS) for mineral exploration, making it one of the first coastal states to pursue such activities. These endeavors have direct significance to the EU due to the risks of biodiversity loss, pollution, releasing methane, and potential adverse effects on EU fisheries. The main objective of ARCTICMINER is to assess how deep-sea mining on CS aligns with international obligations of coastal states, particularly under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the newly adopted Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement (BBNJ). The project also explores how coastal states' sovereign rights to engage in deep-sea mining can be balanced with the rights of the international community. The project will test two hypotheses: first, whether recent developments in international law require adjustments in coastal states’ practice; and second, to what extent the rights of coastal states can be limited by obligations not to infringe upon high seas freedoms and the common concern of humankind in conserving biodiversity. ARCTICMINER will use doctrinal and law in context methods to analyze coastal states’ obligations, placing the analysis in the context of new developments, such as BBNJ, protection of rights of future generations, and rights of nature. The project will generate policy recommendations, potentially influencing states’ policies related to deep-sea mining. ARCTICMINER will also use case-study approach to analyze Norway's practice. The novelty of ARCTICMINER lies in its focus on an emerging issue of deep-sea mining on CS and its integration of the newly adopted BBNJ Agreement into the analysis. The project aims to contribute to more sustainable ocean management, aligning with the objectives of the MSCA Work Programme and the EU Green Deal.