UTULEI, American Samoa – The Deep Sea Mining (DSM) Task Force held an important public forum on August 6, 2025, aimed at fostering community understanding and dialogue around deep sea mining activities in American Samoa’s Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The event provided an opportunity for residents and stakeholders to hear from industry experts and raise questions about this complex and evolving topic.

The forum featured presentations from three distinguished speakers who offered varied insights on deep sea mining’s environmental, technological, economic, and financial aspects. Scott Vincent, President of the Critical Ocean Minerals Research Center, discussed the often polarized public conversation, addressing common misconceptions fueled by environmental advocacy groups and highlighting the known and unknown impacts of deep sea nodule harvesting. Oliver Gunasekara, CEO of Impossible Metals, shared how innovative technology is being developed to selectively collect polymetallic nodules while preserving marine ecosystems, underscoring the potential benefits that such advancements could bring to the community and economy of American Samoa. Additionally, venture capitalist Victor L. Vescovo provided a critical viewpoint on the financial uncertainties and technological challenges facing the industry, emphasizing the need for careful consideration and strategic planning as American Samoa evaluates its future options.