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'Gold rush' warning over plans to mine precious metals in deep sea
Controversial proposals to mine precious metals in the deep sea are being discussed at key international talks. Environmental groups warn a "gold rush" to extract minerals from the seabed would be catastrophic for the marine environment. But mining companies argue that cobalt, nickel and other metals are critical in the race to net zero - and removing them from the deep ocean would cause less damage than sourcing them on land. The talks, at the International Seabed Authority (ISA) in Jamaica, have added urgency because a ban on deep sea mining expired earlier this month, allowing companies to apply for a commercial ... (full story)