Take Action Now: Submit Public Comments by September 5th

NOAA is proposing revisions to the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (DSHMRA) that will weaken regulations for U.S. companies to conduct commercial deep-sea extraction in areas beyond national jurisdiction. As the US is a non-party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, NOAA may issue licenses and permits to U.S. citizens in the high seas.

NOAA’s proposed changes to exploration license and permit applications for commercial deep-sea extraction will impact the Clarion Clipperton Zone, spanning from Mexico to Hawaiʻi, and protected areas such as the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument. This move will weaken regulations for U.S. companies to conduct seabed mining in international waters – and undermine the International Seabed Authority’s work to develop regulations and a process for environmental review.

Submit your comment via the Federal Comment Portal by September 5, 2025, to oppose NOAA’s proposal to weaken regulations for U.S. companies to mine in global waters. Follow the instructions on their website. For additional messaging guidance to inform your public comments, visit our partners, Surfrider Foundation.

✔️ Sign and share the petition to oppose deep-sea mining. 
✔️ Post on social media using our sample messages & hashtags.