Data Gaps in the American Samoa Portion of the United States Exclusive Economic Zone: What They are, Where They are, and Why They Matter for Marine Mining

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Abstract As global demand for minerals continues to grow, deep‑sea mining is again being evaluated as a potential source of critical resources. This presentation examines the geoscience data required to support a data‑driven approach to policy and governance, using historical scientific studies from the Clarion‑Clipperton Zone (CCZ) as a precedent for how robust datasets can inform decision‑making. In contrast to the extensive work carried out in the CCZ, abyssal plains within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (US EEZ) remain largely unstudied despite being modeled to contain mineral nodules. Focusing on the American Samoa portion of the US EEZ, we identify key data gaps related to seafloor geology, oceanography, environmental baselines, biological resources, archaeological assets, and geohazards, and recommend strategic approaches for seafloor mapping, ocean observation, and baseline characterization. Establishing these datasets would reduce uncertainty and risk for both regulators and developers, enable informed leasing and governance decisions, promote responsible development, and ultimately maximize returns to governing entities while protecting one of the planet’s most extensive yet understudied marine habitats.

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