The European Commission, under the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries department, has opened a public consultation on seabed mining to gather the public’s opinions concerning seabed mining developments as a way to help EU develop its position on the issue.
According to the European Commission, commercial seabed mining operating today is limited to shallow water. However, as the underwater technologies have developed and expanded there is an increasing concern that existing extraction activities from seas and ocean could increase and that mining activities in deeper water may begin.
The consultation period runs from 2014.07.03 to 2014.06.16