Greenpeace protests in Mexico against US deep-sea mining push

Greenpeace activists in Manzanillo, Mexico, protested on July 8, 2026, against the United States' unilateral push for deep-sea mining in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, demanding a global moratorium. The demonstration, which featured a giant image of President Donald Trump labeled a 'sea monster,' aimed to pressure international leaders ahead of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) meeting in Jamaica starting July 13.

The protest

Activists in kayaks displayed signs reading 'Make our oceans safe again' and 'No a la minería submarina' while calling on Mexico's delegation, led by Ambassador Roberto Canseco, to resist US pressure Source: infobae. Greenpeace and the Center for Biological Diversity released a report warning that US actions—including an April 2025 executive order directing NOAA to fast-track permits—create 'a route outside the multilateral framework' Source: elpaises.

Environmental risks

The report highlights threats to migratory species, ecological connectivity, and Mexico's Pacific Deep Mexican Biosphere Reserve. Mining would generate sediment plumes that 'clog the filtration systems of marine organisms and alter trophic networks' Source: elpaises. The Clarion-Clipperton Zone, rich in polymetallic nodules, hosts critical biodiversity.

International stakes

The ISA has not yet adopted commercial mining regulations. The Metals Company, a US firm with ISA exploration contracts, has sued to block ISA investigations into unilateral mining Source: elpaises. Mexico, though not a direct target, faces transboundary impacts. Greenpeace urges a precautionary moratorium until independent science can guide decisions Source: cnn.