Exploration regulations have been in force for many years. Exploration includes analyzing deposits, testing systems and equipment, and completing environmental baseline, scientific, technical, and economic studies; no commercial activity is permitted under exploration.
Exploitation (commercial mining) regulations have been under development for many years. The ISA has stated that the exploitation regulations will be adopted in 2025. Multiple countries, including the Cook Islands, have awarded exploration licenses within their exclusive economic zones. For more details, please see the blog post “Current Status of Deep Sea Mining Regulations.”
