Securing Critical Minerals
Deep Sea Minerals Corp. welcomes G7 declaration on securing critical mineral supply chains for allied needs.
Deep Sea Minerals Corp. (CSE: SEAS) welcomed the G7's new declaration on critical minerals on June 22, 2026, framing its deep-ocean exploration project as a direct answer to allied supply-chain gaps GlobeNewswire. The declaration, signed at the Évian Summit on June 17, calls for reducing dependence on any single non-allied supplier to below 60% of rare earth supply by 2030 Resources Review.
CEO James Deckelman said the G7 statement "sends a clear message: critical minerals supply security is now a strategic priority for allied economies" GlobeNewswire. His company is one of only three public-market companies to reach an advanced stage in the U.S. deep-sea mining regulatory pipeline Mining.com.
NOAA Clears a Key Hurdle for Deep-Sea License
On June 1, 2026, NOAA issued a "substantial compliance" determination for Deep Sea Minerals' exploration license application Mining.com. That finding is a major de-risking milestone. It means the company's filing met the core legal requirements under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (DSHMRA) of 1980 — a U.S. law that governs mining in international waters outside the United Nations system.
The application targets a 150,000 square kilometer block in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), a stretch of the Pacific Ocean estimated to hold 619 million tonnes of wet mineral nodules GlobeNewswire. A public hearing is scheduled for July 1, and the comment period closes August 3 Federal Register. No license has been awarded yet.
Trump Order and G7 Summit Align to Boost Deep-Sea Push
The political backdrop has shifted fast in Deep Sea Minerals' favor. In April 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14285, directing NOAA to fast-track deep-sea mining applications Ballotpedia. NOAA then published a streamlined permitting rule in January 2026, allowing companies to file exploration and recovery permits together NOAA.
The G7 declaration, backed by leaders including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Trump, created a new Critical Minerals Resilience and Production Alliance France Diplomatie. It is a direct response to China, which controls roughly 90% of global rare earth refining Mining Digital. China's Foreign Ministry dismissed the effort as a "small clique" that breaks market rules Reuters.
A Billion-Dollar Industry Taking Shape in the Deep Ocean
Deep Sea Minerals operates through its U.S. subsidiary, American Ocean Minerals Corp. (AOMC). AOMC recently merged with Odyssey Marine Exploration to form a combined platform with a pro forma equity value of $1 billion Business Wire. Former Rio Tinto CEO Tom Albanese chairs the combined entity. TV personality Mike Rowe is a founding investor and special advisor.
The company rebranded from Copperhead Resources as recently as January 26, 2026 GlobeNewswire. Globally, 195 critical mineral projects announced in early 2026 have mobilized roughly €64 billion in capital Resources Review. NOAA Administrator Neil Jacobs has called deep-seabed mining "key to unlocking a domestic source of critical minerals" NOAA.
Critics Warn of Legal Disputes and Irreversible Ocean Damage
U.S. mining in the CCZ creates a direct conflict with the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the UN body that oversees international seabed rights. Because the U.S. never joined the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), it does not recognize the ISA's authority. Legal analysts warn this could trigger maritime disputes with UNCLOS member states ABA.
Environmental groups are firmly opposed. Greenpeace argues deep-sea mining causes irreversible damage to abyssal ecosystems that take millions of years to form Oceanographic. The Pew Charitable Trusts echoes that view, saying a truly "responsible" deep-sea mine does not exist Pew Charitable Trusts. Analysts from the Center on Global Energy Policy also caution that the real cost question is who pays for shifting away from cheaper Chinese supply CGEP.
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