The UK has changed its position on deep-sea mining, deciding to add its name to the list of countries calling for a moratorium on new mining licences proposed by the International Seabed Authority (ISA).

Deep-sea mining is a highly controversial activity that seeks to obtain minerals such as lithium, copper and cobalt from the ocean floor. Despite the importance of securing these minerals to power green technologies, environmentalists have warned of the “catastrophic” impact that deep-sea mining could have on the world’s marine ecosystems.

“Deep-sea mining poses an existential threat to some of the most vulnerable, least explored habitats on the planet,” said Clare Brooke, chief executive of the Blue Marine Foundation. “It is vital that we exercise the precautionary principle and find ways of producing minerals necessary for the transition to net zero so as not to cause catastrophic and permanent destruction of fragile ocean biodiversity.”

Although it...