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The deep seafloor is regarded as a potentially large source of the minerals needed for producing batteries to fuel the transition to a low-carbon energy system, but rapid understrained mining would have severe impacts on deep-ocean ecosystems and should be avoided. We propose alternative pathways forward.

A comprehensive understanding of the deep-sea environment and mining's likely to impacts is unnecessary to assess whether and under what conditions deep-seabed mining operations com;y with the International Seabed Authority's obligations to prevent serious harm and ensure the effective protection of the marine environment form harmful effects in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.