CNMI advocate warns against deep-sea mining

10/08/2025 - For Sheila J. Babauta, the fight against deep-sea mining is as much about protecting culture and identity as it is about safeguarding fragile marine ecosystems.

“The Mariana Trench and our ocean are our eldest ancestors,” Babauta said. “I think that it's important for us to remember this relationship that we have with our environment. That our true wealth and health come from our environment and are directly connected to that. So, if we want to ensure longevity and sustainability of our people and our culture, we need to protect our ocean and our lands.”

Babauta, chairwoman of Friends of the Mariana Trench and newly named fellow with the Right to Democracy initiative, has been following with concern the push by the U.S. government to fast-track deep-sea mining in the Pacific. Earlier this year, the Trump administration signed an executive order opening waters near American Samoa to mineral exploration, igniting fierce opposition across the territory.

In solidarity with that movement, Right to Democracy partnered with the America the Beautiful Coalition to launch a petition opposing seabed mining. The campaign has drawn close to 3,000 signatures, a testament to the groundswell of Pacific and territorial voices rallying against an industry seen as both destructive and imposed from afar.

What worries Babauta is how familiar this playbook looks: Sweeping decisions made in Washington with little or no consultation with island communities. 

“There was really blatant disregard for their input and for the impact it'll have on their lives, so they rallied and started a campaign. The leadership has gotten together, all full leadership, the governor, lieutenant governor, the speaker of the House, the Senate president, and their delegate have come together to oppose this process and moving forward,” she said of American Samoa. 

And that’s why, Babauta said, it’s important for everyone in the Northern Marianas to pay attention to what’s happening in American Samoa.

Deep-sea mining is still an emerging industry. Companies hope to scoop up potato-sized nodules rich in minerals from the ocean floor using futuristic technologies such as giant vacuums or robotic collectors. But scientists say the risks far outweigh the promises of revenue. Sediment plumes released during the process could smother life 

on the seabed, cause species extinction, and spread across ocean ecosystems in ways researchers are only beginning to understand.

“Experts across the field say that the damages that come from deep-sea mining are destructive, that they are irreversible, and that there's even a potential to cause extinction to certain species,” Babauta said, adding that it’s simply not worth the risk.

The CNMI’s location beside the mineral-rich Mariana Trench makes the territory especially vulnerable to future interest from mining companies. Babauta believes the Commonwealth should get ahead of any federal decisions by starting conversations now—rooted in the Covenant and the CNMI Constitution, which both contain environmental protections.

“One of our first steps is to really understand our Covenant, to read it, and be very clear and firm on our stance. In our Covenant, in our constitution, there's language around environmental protection and our right to a healthy environment. And the language in these documents that outline our relationship with the United States is something that we lean on and depend on,” she said.

At a recent town hall hosted by Delegate King-Hinds, Babauta asked whether deep-sea mining was being discussed for the CNMI. King-Hinds reassured attendees that she had not heard of any plans targeting local waters but agreed that vigilance is key.

Across the Pacific, momentum is already shifting. Palau led the way in 2022 by calling for a moratorium on deep-sea mining, soon joined by Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu, and the Federated States of Micronesia. Today, 38 countries worldwide have either banned or called for pauses on the practice.

Babauta hopes the CNMI will one day join that growing chorus. 

“Since 2022, there have been Pacific islands and nations around the world taking action against deep-sea mining. And in 2022, Palau was actually the first nation to launch a new alliance of countries that would call for a moratorium. I think that's just so inspiring that it comes from the Pacific. And for Palau to lead this opposition against deep-sea mining is a really great indication of the type of relationship Pacific islanders have with our ocean and with the environment.”

Report by Mark Rabago