By John Cronin

The rush to mine the deep sea floor is on. Buried in the ocean bottom are rich deposits of precious metals such as silver, gold and zinc. Their extraction will cause environmental impacts that could be devastating to some of the planet’s rarest marine communities. A growing opposition movement is afoot.

In a recent post we highlighted Secretary of State Clinton’s plea to the United States Senate to facilitate U.S. claims in the Arctic. Her recent trip above the Circle promoting harmony amongst nations belies the international battle over mining rights ahead. Environment 360 conducted an excellent interview with Duke University marine biologist Cindy Lee Van Dover in March 2011. The controversy is building in Papua New Guinea. And, of course, China is on the move with new technology. Marcia Fargnoli, our correspondent in Namibia, keeps up with the growing opposition in New Zealand where this excellent video was produced.