Kenya has added its support to an expanding international campaign urging a precautionary halt, or moratorium, on deep seabed mining, pointing to unresolved scientific questions and possible damage to delicate marine ecosystems.
The move was announced on Wednesday, June 17, during talks on deep-sea governance at the 11th Our Oceans Conference in Mombasa, where officials cautioned that worldwide enthusiasm for seabed mining is moving ahead more quickly than the rules designed to manage it.
Deep seabed mining focuses on potato-sized mineral nodules located 4,000 to 6,000 metres beneath the ocean floor. These deposits hold manganese, nickel, cobalt, copper and rare earth elements needed for technologies including electric vehicle batteries, wind turbines and smartphones.
‘The interest in deep seabed mining is moving faster than the framework that is meant to guide it,’ Principal Secretary for Mining Harry Kimtai said.
He added, ‘That is why Kenya is lending its voice to calls for a precautionary pause on deep-seabed mining until there is enough science to guide evidence-based decisions. We are not there yet. We support the precautionary pause.’
Kenya now stands with 42 countries supporting a worldwide pause as pressure increases on governments to slow deep-ocean exploration until the environmental dangers are more clearly understood.
Environmental organizations say moving forward without complete impact assessments would be a risky gamble for marine ecosystems that are still poorly researched and highly vulnerable.
Researchers warn that mining at such depths could disturb slow-growing and highly specialized marine life, damage fragile habitats and create sediment plumes capable of spreading far beyond extraction areas.
Officials in Nairobi say the country’s stance is based on science and caution. Kimtai said Kenya has advanced in geospatial mapping but has not yet carried out offshore seabed exploration, underscoring the need for decisions grounded in evidence.
He also called for stronger investment in scientific research and addressing knowledge gaps, while urging a shift toward circular economy approaches as a more sustainable alternative to seabed mining.
Speaking at the side event, WWF-Kenya Chief Executive Officer Jackson Kiplagat welcomed Kenya’s position, saying it showed leadership by placing science and environmental protection at the forefront.
‘The government has demonstrated leadership by putting science first and strengthening multilateral cooperation through joining the growing coalition of nations committed to ensuring that the protection of the marine environment remains at the heart of all decisions concerning the deep sea,’ Kiplagat said.