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NOAA By the Numbers Topics

Ocean Energy and Mining

The ocean is an important source of mineral and hydrocarbon energy resources. There are active efforts underway in the U.S. and globally to develop ocean-based renewable energy and exploit deep seabed minerals. NOAA’s expertise is essential as we search the ocean for new sources of energy. Our fleet of research ships and innovative underwater exploration vehicles enhance NOAA’s ocean research and exploration initiatives.

NOAA's Role:

  • The NOAA Coast Survey maintains the nation’s nautical charts and publications for U.S. coasts and the Great Lakes. They create and maintain more than a thousand charts covering 95,000 miles of shoreline and 3.4 million square nautical miles of water. This information ensures safe navigation for maritime traffic and effective management and placement of energy infrastructure. 
  • NOAA provides foundational information and services to support renewable and conventional energy siting and operations. This includes information ranging from forecasting winds and the onset of storms to the timing and location of endangered whale migrations. Through research pilots and partnerships, NOAA also works closely with federal partners and industry. 
  • Deep seabed hard mineral resource mining is the extraction of critical mineral resources from the ocean floor. The deep seabed has valuable resources like manganese, nickel, cobalt, copper,  and rare earth elements. Critical minerals are used in everything from defense systems and batteries to smartphones and medical devices. Access to these minerals is a key factor in the resilience of U.S. supply chains. Before a U.S. citizen, including a U.S. company, may engage in deep seabed mining activities in ocean floor areas beyond national jurisdiction, they must obtain appropriate government authorizations. The Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (DSHMRA) charges NOAA with the responsibility for issuing to U.S. companies licenses for exploration and permits for commercial recovery of polymetallic nodules containing manganese, nickel, cobalt, and copper from the deep seabed in areas beyond national jurisdiction. NOAA’s National Ocean Service provides the review and processing of DSHMRA applications.
  • NOAA is a vice chair of the U.S. Extended Continental Shelf (ECS) Project. The ECS is that portion of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from shore. The mission of this project is to establish the full extent of the U.S. continental shelf, consistent with international law.

Why It Matters:

Ocean mining and minerals
  • In 2023, offshore mining was the second largest contributor to overall growth of the marine economy, just behind coastal and offshore tourism and recreation. Offshore mining generated $96.0 billion in gross output (revenue) and created $62.9 billion in value added (GDP) activity. Oil and gas extraction accounted for $60.0 billion of the value added, and sand and gravel extraction accounted for $2.4 billion. – U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. (2025). “Marine Economy Satellite Account, 2023”. https://www.bea.gov/data/special-topics/marine-economy 
  • In 2023, coastal power generation plants generated $18.2 billion in gross output (revenue) and created $11.9 billion in value added (GDP) activity. – U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. (2025). “Marine Economy Satellite Account, 2023”. https://www.bea.gov/data/special-topics/marine-economy