Tell the Interior Department: Don’t mine the deep sea

Re: Docket No. BOEM-2025-0035

Scientists have barely begun to learn about the fragile, complex ecosystems of the sea floor. This mining plan threatens to destroy deep sea ecosystems before we ever get the chance to learn more about them.

Many of the species that live in the depths are long-lived and slow-growing. It could take years for them to recover after their habitat is disturbed by deep-sea mining. In addition, some forms of deep sea mining could create plumes of waste that may travel huge distances from mining sites, with wide-ranging negative impacts on other ocean ecosystems.

We know so little about the deep sea. The life there is ancient and precious. The fact is, we shouldn’t mine there at all — and definitely not without understanding all the risks. I strongly urge you not to hold a mineral lease sale in the waters offshore American Samoa.