A translation by Judith Turcotte
Is there mining exploration in the estuary and the gulf of the St. Lawrence River? I asked myself this question after reading an article from MacLean’s magazine on the subject of a mining exploration in the oceans. The question is timely as Donald Trump has just issued a presidential decree to accelerate the emission of an exploitation permits of the sea bed to extract nickel, cobalt and other minerals. As usual, Trump gave himself the right to issue the permits. He doesn’t care about the rules. These sea beds do not belong to him; they belong to all mankind.
The Metals Company, based in Vancouver, specialized in the mining exploitation of sea beds has just obtained from the United States (they gave themselves the right) the mining concession identified as the Clarion-Clipperton Zone an expanse of 4.5 million square kilometres between Hawaii and Mexico. In the MacLean’s article, Gerard Barron, the chairman of the company, attempts to reassure us by declaring that mining exploitation has very little impact on the environment. Difficult to believe.
There exists a United Nations organization that oversees the mining exploitation in the oceans. The International Seabed Authority (ISA) was created in 1982 during the implementation of the UN Convention on the law of the sea. ISA organizes and controls all activities attached to the mineral resources of the oceans in the interest of mankind. One hundred and seventy states are members in addition to the European Union. Canada is a member but not the United States.
The legal mandate of regulating the activities related to the minerals in the sea beds beyond national jurisdictions lies exclusively with the ISA. Following the announcement of the licensing of The Metals Company, ISA declared that these actions violated the international right and the principle whereby the sea beds constitute the common heritage of humanity. Only the ISA has the right to deliver permits. The organization has, moreover, granted no fewer than thirty exploration contracts to different enterprises in recent years. Obviously, Trump could not care less. A legal debate on international rights is to be expected.
In August 2025, a number of countries, several ecologist groups and scientists asked ISA to impose a moratorium on the mining exploitation of the sea beds. Discussions have not yet arrived at an agreement. Canada was part of those who supported this moratorium estimating that the environmental risks were unknown.
The estuary of the St. Lawrence River is not considered as international waters but as inland waters entirely under the jurisdiction of Canada. It is the same for the Gulf of St. Lawrence, which is considered as an inland sea partially enclosed by Newfoundland. There are no drilling projects and mining extractions in the riverbed of the St. Lawrence River. However, related activities such as mineral transport, dredging and the expansion of ports have an impact on the river’s environment. It is the same situation for the Gulf of St. Lawrence with the exception of the hydrocarbon exploration projects and permits.