Seasteading is the concept of homesteading on the high seas, favored by libertarians and those seeking to create new nations. Examples include Sealand and the Republic of Minerva, while the Seasteading Institute is currently pursuing the creation of freestanding artificial islands on the high seas.
Seasteading is a concept that has been frequently proposed, and on occasion attempted, but not seriously pursued until very recently (2008). Seasteading is the concept of homesteading on the high seas, where the only laws that apply are those of the home nations which continue to apply to citizens outside the country (not many). Seasteading is favored by libertarians, seeking a country with minimal government, and others seeking to open up new territories and create new nations. Since the oceans cover 70% of the Earth’s surface, some have suggested that it is prudent to attempt to colonize some of that area before attempting colonies on the Moon or Mars.
There are at least two examples of seasteading that have been attempted. The most famous is Sealand, a small ocean shelf located off the Suffolk coast of England. Sealand was built by the UK government during WWII and abandoned in 1956. In the 1960s the island was occupied by pirate broadcasters and progressively changed hands in a series of small ‘wars’ waged by individuals competing for the small platform. A 1968 court decision ruled that the UK had no jurisdiction over the shelf because it was more than 3 miles offshore, and this continued to be used as a legal basis that Sealand was an independent state. Despite claims to the contrary, numerous incidents have shown that the UK treats Sealand as an independent state and that a few dozen people live there today, with over 300 official passports issued.
The second attempt at sea stabilization was the Republic of Minerva, created by Las Vegas libertarian millionaire Michael Oliver in 1972 when he imported sand from Australia to raise an underwater sandbar above sea level in the South Pacific near the island of Tonga. Shortly after settlement, Tonga laid claim to the island and sent troops to enforce the claim. Minervan’s flag was lowered and the island was occupied by Tonga. Various groups have attempted to reoccupy the tiny sandbar over the years, but none have been successful.
The newest and most promising attempt at seasteading is currently being pursued by the Seasteading Institute in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Seasteading Institute is headed by Patri Friedman, granddaughter of influential economist Milton Friedman, and was launched with a pledge of US$500,000 in funding from Paypal co-founder and venture capitalist Peter Thiel. The Seasteading Institute is looking to create its first seastead in San Francisco Bay and hopes to develop the engineering know-how to create freestanding artificial islands on the high seas. Only time will tell if they will be successful.
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