Abstract
Deep-sea mining of the international seabed could begin soon, despite concerns about its ecological consequences. We join others calling for a ban on international seabed mining, but for a different reason: it is a multi-billion-dollar solution to problems that do not exist. We refute three pro-extraction arguments—about (1) mineral scarcity, (2) social benefits, and (3) economic benefits—that misrepresent the state of the mining industry and mineral supply chains.