Spain and 32 nations seek deep-sea mining pause

Thirty-three nations, including Spain, are calling for a preventative pause on deep-sea mining, citing insufficient scientific understanding of its potential environmental impacts. This follows a U.S. move to promote such activities. The countries, including France, are urging partners to join the moratorium, accelerate deep-sea research, and uphold international law. They emphasize the fragility of deep-sea ecosystems and their role in carbon storage, while also highlighting potential risks to marine life and the food chain. The announcement was made at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France. Environmental groups are celebrating the call for a moratorium, emphasizing the need for scientific evidence before allowing deep-sea mining, and the importance of protecting the ocean's resources.