When seabed mining company Nautilus approached the government of Papua New Guinea for permission to start prospecting off the country’s coast, it was initially welcomed for the potential revenue it would generate. But communities along the coast of the south Pacific country soon became unhappy with the impact the company was having on their environment. They organised to oppose its activities, gaining support from scientists and conservation groups around the world. The venture eventually failed and Nautilus has now gone into administration.
What consequences will this collapse have on the future of seabed mining internationally?