NOVA · Season 6 · Episode 4

“Cashing in on the Ocean”

Aired Friday 2 February 1979

The bed of the northeast Pacific Ocean is covered with a "carpet" estimated to be worth a staggering ten million dollars. These manganese nodules—the bumpy carpet—are rich not only in manganese but in the key strategic minerals: copper, nickel and cobalt. NOVA examines the debate about who owns them and who has the right to exploit their use.

S6 E4 discussion