The Deep Sea Mining Campaign and Greenpeace have claimed a speculative rush to mine the seabed, with companies in an unholy alliance with the agency responsible for regulating it.
The NGOs want a moratorium on seabed mining, and exploration, for 20 years, until more is learned about its impacts.
In a letter, the secretary-general of the ISA, Michael Lodge, did not respond to the NGOs' claims that he is too close to the mining companies or the call for the moratorium.