Deep Sea Mining in International Waters

Baroness Boycott Excerpts

Monday 30th June 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Collins of Highbury (Lab)]

I think I need to respond in a positive way. I can be absolutely clear what we are in favour of. The major priority for the ISA is to agree a regulatory regime for exploitation, and we have been engaged in these negotiations from the start. The ISA has agreed a road map for continued work on the regulations with a view to their adoption in 2025. We will actively participate in those negotiations at the council of the ISA next week. We are absolutely committed; we know what we have to do. We know that the ISA council has agreed that deep sea mining should not take place in the absence of these regulations. That is what we will be committed to, and that is what we will say to all our allies.

[Baroness Boycott (CB)]

My Lords, at the start of April I wrote to the department about the high seas treaty—I have still not had a reply—so some of my questions have already been asked. What deadline has the ministerial team set for the drafters to meet for this treaty?

I was at an oceans conference last week. The Minister has said that these minerals are like gold. The circular economy means that we have enough critical minerals already in the world to supply an enormous need, so what are the Government doing to encourage the circular economy of precious metals to avoid the ghastly prospect of deep sea mining?