Regulatory Developments
For decades, the international legal framework for deep-sea mineral activities has evolved under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (“UNCLOS”) and, within the United States, the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (“DSHMRA”).
Historically, commercial exploration of deep-sea minerals was limited to scientific and environmental research activities. A major policy shift occurred on April 24, 2025, when President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order 14285, “Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources.” This Executive Order directed federal agencies to modernize permitting frameworks, clarify jurisdictional authority, and encourage private-sector innovation in developing offshore critical-mineral resources under existing U.S. law.
The Order highlights the strategic importance of reducing dependence on foreign sources of critical minerals, strengthening domestic manufacturing capacity, creating high-skilled American jobs, and enhancing national security. It also emphasizes environmental safeguards and scientific collaboration to ensure that offshore resource activities proceed responsibly.
As a U.S.-based company founded by a former U.S. Air Force intelligence officer and U.S. Air Force Academy graduate, Deep Sea Rare Minerals, Inc. supports these national objectives and is positioning itself to participate responsibly in this emerging regulatory environment.
DSRM’s long-term strategy remains grounded in lawful, transparent engagement with federal regulators, scientific institutions, and industry partners to help ensure that the development of subsea mineral resources proceeds responsibly and in alignment with U.S. national interests.