Let $M^3$ be a closed, connected and oriented smooth $3$-manifold, and fix an integer $g \geq 1$. Is it true that for a generic set of Riemannian metrics on $M$ the set of closed, connected and orientable embedded minimal surfaces of genus $g$ in $M$ is compact? If not, is it true for a generic set of metrics of positive scalar curvature?


There is no hope that this holds for every metric, since $\Sigma\_{\gamma} \times \mathbb{S}^1$ has a sequence of minimal embedded tori winding around $\mathbb{S}^1$ as many times as one wishes. Here $\Sigma\_\gamma$ is a compact Riemannian surface of genus $\gamma \geq 1$ endowed with a metric of constant curvature equal to $0$, if $g=1$, or equal to $-1$ if $g \geq 2$ (see [this paper](https://www.ams.org/journals/proc/1994-122-01/S0002-9939-1994-1243169-9/S0002-9939-1994-1243169-9.pdf), for instance).



Space of embedded minimal surfaces of fixed genus in a generic $3$-manifold
The set of embedded minimal surfaces $\Sigma$ with $\textrm{genus}(\Sigma) \leq g\_0$ and $\textrm{area}(\Sigma)\leq A\_0$ is compact for a generic metric (this follows from White's version of the Choi--Schoen compactness theorem <https://mathscinet.ams.org/mathscinet-getitem?mr=880951>, see also Appendix A: <https://mathscinet.ams.org/mathscinet-getitem?mr=1778099>).


*However*, without the area bounds, this fails: <https://mathscinet.ams.org/mathscinet-getitem?mr=1728019> (generic metrics without compactness of stable spheres), <https://mathscinet.ams.org/mathscinet-getitem?mr=2026836> (same for higher genus), <https://mathscinet.ams.org/mathscinet-getitem?mr=2103999> (positive scalar curvature). In the first two papers, the surfaces constructed are also stable.


**Edit**: The second part of the question (generic PSC metric) is trickier. I think that no counterexample is known but I would guess that one exists. The tricky part is that for $(M,g)$ a $3$-manifold with a PSC metric, the space of bounded Morse index surfaces is compact. So any counterexample would necessarily have unbounded Morse index (as in the Colding--De Lellis example above). This rules out minimization, which is the tool used to construct the other examples.


One reason to think that such surfaces exist comes from White's degree theory. See (2) in the introduction here <https://mathscinet.ams.org/mathscinet-getitem?mr=978083> (obviously not exactly your question since it deals with disks not closed surfaces).


