Dear Editor,
Mr. Michael McDonald assures the people of American Samoa that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will follow all federal laws and regulations in considering a deep-sea mineral lease within our Exclusive Economic Zone. While compliance with legal requirements is important, the people of American Samoa should not confuse regulatory process with proof that seabed mining is safe, necessary, or economically beneficial.
The central question is not whether BOEM will follow the law. The real question is whether an industry with no proven record of commercial success should be given access to our ocean resources.
Supporters of seabed mining often speak about future opportunities, jobs, and revenues, yet they rarely point to a single example of a successful commercial deep-sea mining operation that has generated lasting benefits for local communities. After decades of research, exploration, and billions of dollars in investment worldwide, no seabed mining project has established a proven track record of sustained profitability.
In fact, one of the industry’s most frequently cited ventures, Nautilus Minerals and its Solwara 1 project in Papua New Guinea, ended in bankruptcy before commercial production ever began. Investors lost money, and the project became a warning about the financial risks and uncertainty surrounding this industry. Even today, companies pursuing deep-sea mining remain focused on securing permits and investment rather than demonstrating successful commercial operations.
Before American Samoa considers becoming part of this experiment, we should ask a simple question: If the industry cannot point to a successful example elsewhere, why should our waters become the testing ground?
Mr. McDonald notes that a lease would initially authorize only surveys, mapping, and limited sampling. However, these activities are not insignificant. They are the first step toward a larger industrial process. Once exploration rights are granted and substantial investments are made, pressure often grows to move projects toward full-scale development. Therefore, the public has every right to examine not only the immediate impacts but also the long-term consequences of decisions being made today.
Furthermore, much of the deep ocean remains poorly understood by scientists. Many species and ecosystems have yet to be fully documented, and the long-term effects of seabed disturbance remain uncertain. Compliance with environmental laws does not change the fact that scientific uncertainty still exists.
American Samoa’s ocean is more than a potential source of minerals. It supports our culture, our identity, our fisheries, and future generations. Before taking even the first steps toward seabed mining, the public deserves independent scientific review, complete transparency, and honest discussion about both the environmental risks and the industry’s lack of demonstrated economic success.
Caution is not opposition to progress. It is responsible stewardship of resources that belong to all of us.
Sincerely,
Ella Gurr
