Race to the bottom? The dangers of deep-sea mining

The Debate

Overheated and overfished: an SOS for oceans under duress is being sent from a UN summit in Nice. But try telling that to those who advocate deep-sea drilling for precious metals. In a world hungry for the minerals that power our batteries and connect our computers, the United States but also China, India, Japan, Norway and more are seriously studying whether science fiction can become reality.

We ask about the actual feasibility of deep-sea mining and the competing narratives at play, what with the US boycotting the United Nations Oceans Conference in Nice and a paltry 32 nations so far ratifying the UN’s High Seas Treaty. How to protect the two-thirds of our planet’s surface that belong to both everyone and no one?

Watch moreNorway lured by deep-sea mining for rare metals

On that score, there's no need to drill when you hit rock bottom. Even areas protected on paper remain vulnerable to large fishing trawlers that literally rake the seabed, killing both fish and plant life essential for our planet. What can be done before it's too late?

Watch moreKenyan fishermen under pressure as foreign trawlers threaten waters

Produced by François Picard, Andrew Hilliar, Juliette Laffont, Ilayda Habip.