Protect the Eastern Seaboard from a Seabed Mining Project
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is actively reviewing a proposal to open a vast area of ocean off the coast of Virginia to industrial seabed mining. The proposed project would span 2,764 square miles, an area larger than the entire state of Delaware! These ecologically important waters are home to protected species, including the endangered North Atlantic right whale, and are located near sensitive deep-sea corals, offshore canyons, and the proposed Hudson Canyon Marine National Monument.
If approved, this would be the first large-scale seabed mining project in continental U.S. waters — putting at risk the rich and productive waters that sustain our ocean and coastal economies, communities, and ecosystems.
Our ocean needs YOU! Urge BOEM to reject this destructive seabed mining proposal.
BOEM is gathering public input on the proposed area through a comment period originally closing July 23, 2026; but has recently been extended by another 30 days to August 22, 2026! This is a critical opportunity to put these risks on the official record.
Please submit your comment to BOEM today!
Note: this will be submitted as an official public comment to BOEM. As a signatory, your name and zip code may be made publicly available.
TAKE ACTION WITH SURFRIDER
Protect the Eastern Seaboard from a Seabed Mining Project
Please add your name to the comment letter below. This letter will be submitted to the official federal comment period regarding a proposed seabed mining project off of Virginia's coast.
Comments on BOEM-2026-0100 Request for Information
Thank you for the opportunity to submit comments regarding a proposed seabed mining project off of the coast of Virginia.
I am very concerned about the potential authorization of seabed mining in the Atlantic and share the following resources relevant to Section 6 of the agency’s Request for Information.
I am very concerned about the potential authorization of seabed mining in the Atlantic and share the following resources relevant to Section 6 of the agency’s Request for Information.
Seabed mining involves industrial-scale prospecting for metals and other minerals along the ocean floor. Such activity can severely and potentially irreversibly damage marine habitats that nurture commercially and recreationally important fish, and numerous other species. In addition to direct physical destruction of habitat along the sea floor, seabed mining can create sediment clouds in the water column that disturb and harm sensitive marine life, including plankton, fish, whales, and dolphins.
The waters off Virginia have important historical and cultural values that would be impacted by commercial seabed mining. This area is also home to diverse marine ecosystems that provide enormous ecological value and support the economic well-being of the region. According to the Mid-Atlantic Ocean Data Portal (MARCOs), the proposed RFI area is actively being used by federally protected marine species, including the North Atlantic right whale, blue whale, and humpback whale.
This area also supports commercially important species such as American lobster, black sea bass, and longfin squid. The area overlaps with Essential Fish Habitat managed under the Magnuson-Stevens Act for highly migratory species, including tuna, sharks, and swordfish, and is located near the Frank R. Lautenberg Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area. Migratory bird pathways for the Northern Gannet and Red-Throated Loon also pass directly through the area, along with species documented as sensitive to high- and low-frequency sound. Together, these uses underscore the significant risks seabed mining would pose to this marine ecosystem.
This area also supports commercially important species such as American lobster, black sea bass, and longfin squid. The area overlaps with Essential Fish Habitat managed under the Magnuson-Stevens Act for highly migratory species, including tuna, sharks, and swordfish, and is located near the Frank R. Lautenberg Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area. Migratory bird pathways for the Northern Gannet and Red-Throated Loon also pass directly through the area, along with species documented as sensitive to high- and low-frequency sound. Together, these uses underscore the significant risks seabed mining would pose to this marine ecosystem.
The Eastern Seaboard’s economy depends on a clean and healthy coastal environment to support its tourism, recreation, and fishing industries. In just 2024, the economic benefits provided by Virginia’s ocean tourism and recreation sector included over $3.8 billion in direct GDP contributions, and the employment of over 63,405 people across 3,700 establishments. The state’s seafood industry, referred to as the “living resources sector” provided $527 million in direct GDP contributions, and employed 2,497 people across 223 establishments. Based on NOAA data, ocean tourism and recreation provides the highest employment of any other ocean sector in the state.
Beyond Virginia, this risk extends to neighboring coastal economies that depend on the health of these waters. In 2024, tourism and recreation supported 613,952 jobs and generated $55.8 billion in GDP across Maryland, North Carolina, Delaware, New Jersey, and New York — spanning nearly 41,000 businesses. The living resources sector contributed another $1.46 billion in GDP and close to 11,000 jobs. In total, tourism and recreation and living resources across these five states accounted for 42,140 establishments, 624,951 jobs, and $57.3 billion in GDP. Reduced water quality, impaired coastal ecosystems, disturbed wildlife and other potential impacts caused as a result of this project could threaten these valuable economic contributions and the livelihoods they sustain.
I encourage you to thoroughly review the Mid Atlantic Ocean Data Portal (https://portal.midatlanticocean.org) to identify these and other conflicting uses and sensitive habitat areas, as well as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Economics: Ocean Watch resource (https://coast.noaa.gov/digitalcoast/data/enow.html).
I encourage you to thoroughly review the Mid Atlantic Ocean Data Portal (https://portal.midatlanticocean.org) to identify these and other conflicting uses and sensitive habitat areas, as well as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Economics: Ocean Watch resource (https://coast.noaa.gov/digitalcoast/data/enow.html).
Due to the above mentioned reasons, I am opposed to opening this area to seabed mining.
Enter your name and details:
Protect the Eastern Seaboard from a Seabed Mining Project
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is actively reviewing a proposal to open a vast area of ocean off the coast of Virginia to industrial seabed mining. The proposed project would span 2,764 square miles, an area larger than the entire state of Delaware! These ecologically important waters are home to protected species, including the endangered North Atlantic right whale, and are located near sensitive deep-sea corals, offshore canyons, and the proposed Hudson Canyon Marine National Monument.
If approved, this would be the first large-scale seabed mining project in continental U.S. waters — putting at risk the rich and productive waters that sustain our ocean and coastal economies, communities, and ecosystems.
Our ocean needs YOU! Urge BOEM to reject this destructive seabed mining proposal.
BOEM is gathering public input on the proposed area through a comment period originally closing July 23, 2026; but has recently been extended by another 30 days to August 22, 2026! This is a critical opportunity to put these risks on the official record.
Please submit your comment to BOEM today!
Note: this will be submitted as an official public comment to BOEM. As a signatory, your name and zip code may be made publicly available.
