In 1979, a deep-sea mining experiment in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) left a lasting mark on the seabed. Decades later, a groundbreaking study published in the journal Nature, co-led by the National Oceanography Centre and the Natural History Museum,

President Trump signed an executive order to boost the U.S. deep-sea mining industry for critical minerals. Supporters say deep-sea mining could boost the U.S. economy and reduce reliance on land-based mines,