Aug 11, 2026 |
Mozambique has joined the group of 46 countries calling for a moratorium on mining of the international seabed, announced in Jamaica.
According to Oceanographic magazine, Mozambique's accession became known during the 31st Assembly of the International Seabed Authority, which closed last week in Kingston, and at which Mauritius and the Republic of Congo also joined. The 46 States represent more than a quarter of the members of the organisation, which is still not acting on the request.
The same publication reports that the Authority's Council extended, in the opposite direction, the exploration contract of Nauru Ocean Resources Inc., a subsidiary of The Metals Company, a company whose links to unilateral mining operations in United States waters prompted legal challenges and international censure. The inquiry into the companies involved in those activities continues, but with no set deadline.
In the same session, the Council approved the participation of commercial contractors as observers in future meetings. According to Oceanographic, several States argued for postponing the decision to the 32nd session, since there are no rules on how that participation would be regulated or scrutinised, unlike what happens with the intergovernmental and non governmental organisations requesting the same status.
The Mozambican position fits into a recent African movement. According to WWF in Africa, the number of countries on the continent calling for a precautionary pause or moratorium has gone from zero to six since May of this year, beginning with Malawi and followed by Kenya and Madagascar in June.
The organisation stresses that the lack of scientific knowledge about the deep sea has become the central argument in the discussions, with several States arguing that no decision on mineral extraction should be taken before there is sufficient science.
Photo: Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries
