More than 3,000 people from U.S. territories have signed a petition opposing proposed deep-seabed mining in waters near the Mariana Islands and American Samoa, warning of irreversible environmental damage and the exclusion of Indigenous communities from decision-making.
In a letter addressed to Guam Senator Therese M. Terlaje, the Friends of the Marianas and Micronesia Climate Change Alliance said the federal government is pursuing mining proposals without the free, prior, and informed consent of the Indigenous peoples who would be most affected. They argue the plans highlight the limited political power of residents in U.S. territories, where local voices are often sidelined in decisions that directly affect land, ocean, and livelihoods.
“We demand an immediate halt to any plans for deep-seabed mining in American Samoa and the Marianas and a call for a commitment to inclusive, community-led decision-making, where people in our island communities are able to share the benefits, and not just the risks, of such risky proposals,” the two non-profit groups said.
The petition also said deep-sea mining is incompatible with a healthy marine environment and threatens biodiversity, cultural heritage, and traditional ocean stewardship. It adds that Pacific Islander communities depend on the ocean for their survival and identity, and that the permanent extraction of seabed minerals would amount to a one-time loss of resources that have existed “since the dawn of time,” especially as climate change accelerates environmental pressures.
“All aspects of Pacific Islander life are derived from the creation which surrounds us, and our very existence is dependent on a healthy, abundant, and thriving ocean. Deep-seabed mining has proven incompatible with a healthy marine environment, and it undermines efforts to preserve the biodiversity and cultural heritage rooted in our waters. We must protect our ocean, especially in the face of the accelerating impacts of climate change. The potential and permanent environmental damage from deep-sea mining will affect our communities by the one-time taking of resources that have been in our waters since the dawn of time.”
Drawing parallels with past extractive industries in both the Pacific and the Caribbean, FOTM and MCC said such activities have brought long-term environmental harm while undermining self-determination and Indigenous governance. They are calling on the U.S. government to immediately halt any plans for deep-seabed mining in the Marianas—the CNMI and Guam—and American Samoa and to commit to inclusive, community-led decision-making.
“This is a call for justice and solidarity among peoples under racist, undemocratic, colonial rule. We urge the federal government to recognize the right to dignity for all U.S. territories and to uphold the principles of the free, prior, and informed consent, by listening to Indigenous and territorial voices, respecting our power and agency, and safeguarding the ocean for future generations.”
The petition added that the U.S. is again putting disenfranchised and marginalized island communities in a position that limits economic, social, and cultural opportunities by selling our natural resources to the highest bidder.
FOTM and MCC also question why island communities continue to bear the risks of resource extraction for the global energy transition, while investments to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels remain limited.
“If these minerals are so important for a just transition to a post-carbon society, there should be an equal investment in weaning our islands off the fossil fuels that drive climate change.”
Both said they will continue collecting signatures until the public comment period closes on Jan. 12, 2026, and plan to formally submit the petition on the deadline.
Beyond the formal petition, a public comment period held by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management in mid-2025 received approximately 31,000 total comments, with roughly 27,000 of those expressing opposition to deep seabed mining in the territory.
Meanwhile, the administration of Gov. David M. Apatang will be holding a Rota town hall meeting regarding federal seabed mineral leasing on Jan. 7, starting at 5pm at the Rota Mayor's Office. The meeting aims to provide residents an opportunity to discuss BOEM’s request for information regarding the potential leasing of critical minerals offshore of the CNMI.
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