Seabed mining, a growing industry that destroys natural habitat to extract minerals and deposits from the ocean floor, is prohibited in offshore Washington waters by legislation signed into law today by the governor. “This will ensure that our offshore habitat and marine life will never be subject to seabed mining, a destructive process that literally sucks up the ocean floor and ravages everything in its wake,” said Sen. Kevin Van De Wege, (D-Sequim), the sponsor of Senate Bill 5145. “We've been fortunate that no one has tried it up till now, and with this law no one can attempt it in the future.” Seabed mining captures metals, minerals and gemstones by gouging the seabed, creating plumes of sediment that resettle in ...