Environmental groups call for moratorium on deep sea mining

Environmental groups have called for a moratorium on deep sea mining (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)

Environmental groups on Wednesday urged a moratorium on deep-sea mining ahead of an international meeting in Jamaica where an obscure UN body will debate the issue, amid fears it could soon authorise the world’s first licence to harvest minerals from the ocean floor.

More than 20 countries have called for a moratorium or a precautionary pause, with Monaco this month becoming the latest to oppose deep-sea mining ahead of the meeting Monday in Jamaica of the U.N. International Seabed Authority’s council that will last almost two weeks.