Deep sea mining has got a green light to begin in the Pacific by 2023 after Nauru triggered a rule at the International Seabed Authority. The Deep Sea Mining Campaign warns that if nodule mining is allowed to take place in the Pacific Ocean, species such as the Sperm Whale could be adversely affected. Photo: WILLYAM The UN-mandated Authority, tasked with regulating the seabed, has confirmed that today Nauru triggered a rule that would allow mining to commence within two years in its waters. This comes before environmental regulations are in place at the ISA, and amid growing calls by scientists and Pacific civil society networks for a precautionary pause on the fledgling sector.