Who Controls the Ocean Floor’s Riches?

Governments and firms race to secure seabed minerals as regulation, ESG scrutiny, and geopolitics reshape Asia Pacific mining

19 Feb 2026

A new contest is unfolding far below the Pacific’s surface. Deep-sea mining, once dismissed as futuristic ambition, is fast becoming a strategic calculation for governments and corporations chasing minerals vital to electric vehicles, battery storage, and clean energy systems.

This surge of interest is not just about what lies on the seabed. It is about who writes the rules. Across Asia Pacific, policymakers are tightening oversight of offshore resources, updating mining codes, and refining licensing systems to secure supply chains in an era of geopolitical strain.

Within national Exclusive Economic Zones, countries are crafting domestic frameworks to govern exploration. Beyond those borders, the International Seabed Authority is still negotiating exploitation rules, and a finalized Mining Code remains elusive. That gap has injected both urgency and uncertainty into boardrooms and ministries alike.

The Cook Islands has stepped into the spotlight by advancing its own regulatory structure for seabed exploration. The move has drawn operators such as Deep Sea Minerals Corp, which is aligning projects with national priorities while pressing for clear and predictable oversight. Executives argue that without transparent rules, long-term capital will stay cautious.

The Metals Company is also navigating permit applications and regulatory talks as it eyes potential commercial operations. No commercial mining has begun, and its leadership insists science-based governance must come first. Investors agree, with some analysts suggesting regulatory clarity now accounts for nearly 50% of how project risk is judged.

The stakes extend well beyond corporate balance sheets. Nickel, cobalt, and manganese have become strategic inputs for battery manufacturing and renewable infrastructure. Offshore sources could diversify supply and reduce exposure to land-based chokepoints.

Yet resistance is growing. Several Pacific Island nations and global organizations are urging moratoriums or deeper scientific study before large-scale extraction proceeds. Environmental advocates and ESG-focused investors are demanding transparency, ecological safeguards, and credible impact data.

Momentum continues nonetheless. Exploration programs are expanding, environmental planning is moving earlier in project design, and governments are sharpening policy tools. What once felt speculative now resembles an industry taking shape, with governance set to decide how deep the ambitions can truly go.