Hello John!

Recently, a series of vitally important meetings took place in Kingston, Jamaica, that could determine the fate of our oceans for years to come.

The organisation responsible for regulating deep sea mining on the high seas – the International Seabed Authority (ISA) – debated if companies should be allowed to mine the deep sea. In attendance were delegates from various nations (including the UK), as well as representatives from mining companies. And (surprise, surprise) the mining companies pushed hard to get their way and make their money. 

WHAT IS DEEP SEA MINING?

Deep sea mining is an industry on the cusp of being given the go-ahead [1]. Mining companies want to lower tank-like machines up to four kilometres down to the ocean floor, to scrape up tennis ball-sized rocky nodules that contain minerals like copper, nickel and cobalt. These “polymetallic” nodules take millions of years to grow, are home for infants of species like ghost octopuses, and according to a recent study, appear to be producing oxygen in total darkness [2], making them a vital part of the marine environment.

We know more about the surface of the Moon than the bottom of the oceans. In fact, almost every time research vessels explore the deep sea, they discover multiple new lifeforms. The mining machines will destroy all in their path, as well as throw up sediment plumes and noise pollution that could travel for miles. This risks masking calls between whales and their young and disrupting mating partners. 

And we’re not talking about a tiny patch of seabed that companies want to mine. Oh no. A vast area of the Pacific called the Clarion-Clipperton Zone has been divided into 17 mining claims, spanning approximately 1 million square kilometres – that’s an area the size of the UK, France and Italy combined! 

WHY DO COMPANIES WANT TO MINE THE DEEP SEA?

Mining companies such as Canadian-owned The Metals Company spy a quick buck. They tell us they need to mine for critical minerals to help us transition to green energy – largely batteries for electric cars. But companies like BMW, Volvo and Samsung have already pledged not to use minerals from the deep sea. 

And 27 governments including the UK agree it’s bad for our planet, having called for a pause on deep sea mining. 800 marine scientists have signed an open letter urging the practice to be halted. David Attenborough said moving forward with such a destructive industry is “beyond reason”.

The science is clear: we can't save the planet by destroying one of the last untouched ecosystems left on it.

BUT THERE’S HOPE

Recently, governments debated hitting pause on deep sea mining – despite the mining industry pushing for it to go ahead. Greenpeace was present at these important debates, holding companies and governments to account, just as we’ve been doing for the last six years. 

But time is ticking to protect the ocean from what could become the world's largest mining operation. Sign our petition today, so that together, we can make sure this extractive industry never starts.

DON’T MINE OUR OCEAN!

While the ocean might seem far away to many of us, lots of communities around the world live in harmony with it and depend on it for their food and livelihoods. To them, deep sea mining isn’t only a threat to the natural world, but to their way of life as it has existed for generations. 

In this video, the incredible Tongan women explain how devastating deep sea mining would be to their communities, and implore world leaders not to move forward with the industry. 

Thanks for being part of our movement to protect people and the planet.

P.S. Sign the petition and, together, we can stop this harmful industry before it starts!

NOTES:
[1] Deep sea mining - what you need to know
[2] ‘Dark oxygen’ in depths of Pacific Ocean could force rethink about origins of life

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