UK backs suspension of deep-sea mining in environmental U-turn

Thérèse Coffey says data will be gathered on impact of emerging industry and UK will not support licences in meantime

Britain has announced its backing for a moratorium on commercial deep-sea mining, after criticism from scientists, MPs and environmentalists of its previous stance in support of the emerging industry.

On Monday, the UK government said publicly it would back a temporary suspension on supporting or sponsoring any exploitation licences to mine metals from the sea floor until enough scientific evidence was available to understand the impact on ecosystems.