A Canadian company, supported by the US government, is preparing to initiate deep-sea mining operations in international waters, potentially circumventing UN regulations. The company aims to extract valuable metals, including those considered battery-grade, from the seabed using vacuum technology. This move has sparked debate regarding the environmental impact on these largely unexplored ecosystems and the legality of operating outside established international frameworks. The potential extraction of resources is driven by the increasing demand for battery materials, but critics raise concerns about the long-term consequences for marine life and the seabed's delicate balance.