Angelo Villagomez

Center for American Progress organized a symposium on "Beyond 30x30" at IMCC7 in Cape Town, South Africa in 2024 Abstract submissions are now open for the 8th International Marine Conservation Congress (IMCC8 ), taking place November 13–17, 2026, in Edinburgh, Scotland—and we’re excited to announce an open symposium on deep‑sea mining. Titled “Between a Rock and a Deep Place: Science and Deep Sea Mining Policy,” this session will examine the science, ethics, and governance shaping one of the most consequential ocean debates of our time. Speakers will explore emerging research on deep‑sea ecosystems, environmental risks, and scientific uncertainty, alongside equity, Indigenous rights , and global policy dynamics, including ongoing International Seabed Authority negotiations. Researchers and practitioners interested in contributing are encouraged to submit abstracts by May 15, 2026. When submitting, select Open Symposia and choose the symposium title. Summary of topics to...

I was invited to participate in a panel on deep sea mining organized by the Society for Conservation Biology.  I gave these short remarks and then participated in an hour long panel discussion . Good afternoon, and thank you for the invitation to speak with you today. I want to thank SCB and especially David for organizing today’s workshop on deep sea mining. My name is Angelo and I work for an organization in Washington, DC called the Center for American Progress. I’m going to start my talk by saying something you don’t often hear at the start of a conference panel: I wish I didn’t need to be here today. I wish I didn’t have to think about deep sea mining. Two years ago, I was working closely with the American government, imagining what was possible in ocean conservation. I served on the federal advisory board making recommendations on area based management to the government and was on a national academy of sciences panel studying how to make ocean science more equitable...

I was invited to give the keynote talk at the 2026 Mariana Islands Conservation Conference. The organizers of the conference asked me to speak of my role in efforts to oppose deep sea mining near the Mariana Trench -- which I did -- but I also took the opportunity to talk about the history of the Mariana Trench marine national monument. Conservation Tales from the Mariana Trench Before I start I want to thank the board of Tano Tasi yan Todu for inviting me to speak today, and the organizers of this conference. I’ve watched this conference online over the years, and I’m very excited to participate for the first time. I also want to wish all of you a happy National Napping Day. Hopefully you won’t sleep through my talk. I also want to thank everyone who participated in the deep sea mining RFI these last few months. Thank you to brave activisists who spoke up first and raised the alarm. Thank you to the environmental organizations and the government servants who quickly educ...

I'm speaking at a COMPASS townhall on Communicating Risk Effectively at Ocean Sciences meeting 2026 on Monday, February 23.  If you're there, please join us! Strategic Science Communication in Practice: My Remarks at the Communicating Risk Effectively Townhall Good afternoon. My name is Angelo Villagomez, and today I want to discuss how risk communication functions in practice, using the recent 60‑day campaign to oppose deep‑sea mining near the Mariana Trench as a case study. On November 11, virtually no one in the Mariana Islands had heard of deep‑sea mining. Then on November 12, the Trump administration announced a 30‑day plan to begin the process that could open areas near the Mariana Trench to industrial extraction. The timeline was abrupt, the issue was unfamiliar, and our community was completely unprepared for it. With no resources, no prepared messaging, and no existing coalitions, we had to build a comprehensive campaign from scratch—and we had to do it quickly. ...

On November 12, 2025, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) published a Request for Information and Interest (RFI) for “ Commercial Leasing for Outer Continental Shelf Minerals Offshore the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) .” This is the first step in a process that could lead to deep-sea mining in U.S. Pacific waters. The RFI opens a 30-day public comment period, closing December 12, 2025, though the governors of Guam and CNMI have requested a 120-day extension, citing the need for more time to assess environmental, cultural, and economic impacts. READ & BOOKMARK: Mariana Trench Deep Sea Mining Educational Resources The proposed RFI area covers over 35 million acres -- an area the size of New York state -- just east of the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument, with depths ranging from 3,700 to 25,100 feet. BOEM is seeking input across 18 categories, including potential effects on marine ecosystems, Indigenous communities, fisheries, cultural resour...