FOI release

EIR2025/00366: Communications Regarding SMARTEX Deep-Sea Mining Study Publication

This request was refused in part, so we didn't provide some of the information the requester asked for. This may include information where we can neither confirm nor deny that we hold it.

Case reference EIR2025/00366

Received 1 April 2025

Published 18 June 2025

Request

Request received: 01 April 2025

 Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I request the following information regarding the recent Nature paper titled "Long-term impact and biological recovery in a deep-sea mining track" published on March 26, 2025, which details findings from the SMARTEX expedition:

1. Any communications, emails, meeting minutes, or documents discussing media strategy, talking points, or public messaging regarding the paper's findings, particularly in relation to ongoing UN International Seabed Authority talks on deep-sea mining rules.

2. Any communications between yourselves and representatives from The Metals Company or other seabed mining companies regarding the paper prior to publication.

This request covers the period from October 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025.

Response

Response sent: 09 May 2025

Thank you for your request made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for information regarding the recent Nature paper titled "Long-term impact and biological recovery in a deep-sea mining track" published on 26th March 2025.  Because your request concerns environmental information it has been managed under the terms of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.

In answer to your requests:

1. Any communications, emails, meeting minutes, or documents discussing media strategy, talking points, or public messaging regarding the paper's findings, particularly in relation to ongoing UN International Seabed Authority talks on deep-sea mining rules (1st October 2024 – 31st March 2025).

BGS holds emails within the scope of your request, that discuss the BGS Press Release that followed the publication of the Nature paper, and the SMARTEX policy brief that was presented at an International Seabed Authority Council meeting at the end of March 2025 shortly before the Nature paper was published.  These emails are attached along with Attachment 10. 

Some emails have been withheld under Regulation 12(4)(e) ‘Internal communications’ and some attachments and parts of emails have been withheld under Regulation 12(4)(d) ‘Material in the course of completion’.  The details of the exceptions that have been applied, and the public interest test, can be found in the attached schedule of redactions.

2. Any communications between yourselves and representatives from The Metals Company or other seabed mining companies regarding the paper prior to publication (1st October 2024 – 31st March 2025).

BGS does not hold any information within the scope of part two of your request and therefore exception 12(4)(a) ‘Information not held’ applies.

Documents

There are no documents for this release.

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