On June 8, Dr. Ríán Derrig, Assistant Professor at the World Maritime University-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute (WMU-GOI) delivered a presentation at the public webinar "Deep-Sea Mining Under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act" hosted online, by the Environmental Law Institute (ELI). This webinar explored the legal and regulatory framework governing deep-sea mining in areas beyond national jurisdiction. The webinar attracted a high-level of international interest, with a global audience of over 400 registered attendees.
presentation at the webinar:
Deep-Sea Mining Under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act
As interest in deep-sea mineral resources continues to grow, questions surrounding governance, regulation, and environmental responsibility are becoming increasingly important.
about the webinar
The webinar provided a comprehensive overview both of the United States legal framework applicable to commercial mining activities in international waters, with a particular focus on the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (DSHMRA), as well as of the significant international law implications of such activities, which have been the subject of debate and objection from states since April 2025 when the United States issued an Executive Order on this topic.
SPEAKER PANEL
ELI is an internationally recognized non-partisan research, publishing, and education center working to strengthen environmental protection by improving law and governance worldwide.
It provides impartial analysis to opinion makers, including government officials, environmental and business leaders, academics, members of the environmental bar, and journalists in the fields of environmental law, policy, and management, domestically within the US and internationally.
About the World Maritime University
The World Maritime University (WMU) in Malmö, Sweden is established within the framework of the International Maritime Organization, a specialized agency of the United Nations. The mission of WMU is to be the world centre of excellence in postgraduate maritime and oceans education, professional training and research, while building global capacity and promoting sustainable development. WMU is an organization by and for the international maritime community and is committed to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
About wmu-goi
The World Maritime University (WMU)-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute (GOI) is an independent focal point for the ocean science-policy-law-industry-society interface where policymakers, the scientific community, regulators, industry actors, academics, and representatives of civil society meet to discuss how best to manage and use ocean spaces and their resources in accordance with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Institute was inaugurated in May 2018 and made possible through generous support from The Nippon Foundation of Japan, the Governments of Sweden, Canada, and Germany, as well as the City of Malmö.