News

27 Jul 2023

On July 25th in Kingston, Jamaica, the Governments of Palau, Costa Rica, Vanuatu, and Brazil joined forces with the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition to celebrate our living ocean and discuss the future of deep-sea mining and marine environment protection. The event was organized during the International Seabed Authority’s (ISA) Assembly week.

The ISA Assembly meeting offers a crucial opportunity for Member States to take a resolute stand against the advancement of destructive deep-sea mining. Recognizing the potential risks of this destructive industry, which could inflict irreparable harm on the global ocean and the livelihoods of those who rely on it, an increasing number of countries are aligning with scientific counsel and societal concerns by advocating for a moratorium or precautionary pause.

The event’s atmosphere encouraged the exchange of perspectives on why a moratorium or precautionary pause is vital via statements from ISA delegates and discussions throughout the evening.

Speakers included:

  • Director General Gina Guillen-Grillo, Costa Rica
  • Ambassador Elza Moreira Marcelino de Castro, Brazil
  • Permanent Representative Siddharth Shekhar Yadav, Vanuatu
  • Ambassador Ilana Seid representing, Palau
  • The Honourable Hervé Berville, France

The collective call for a pause in deep-sea mining demonstrates the growing resistance to the emerging industry and concern for the wellbeing of our ocean. As the ISA enters a pivotal phase in its history, this united front shows a commitment to safeguarding the health of our planet for future generations. By heeding the scientific advice and societal concerns, these governments, along with others supporting a moratorium, ban or precautionary pause on deep-sea mining, are helping to pave the way for a more secure and thriving marine environment.

Watch some highlights from the speeches below:

20 Jul 2023

In light of the new restrictions placed by the International Seabed Authority (ISA)’s Secretariat on the participation of global media and observers present during the negotiations, the DSCC has joined Greenpeace, Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense, Oceans North, Pacific Blue Line, the Pacific Network on Globalisation and The Ocean Foundation in sending a letter to the ISA Secretary General calling for accreditation media for the Assembly meeting and revise the restrictions to enable freedom of expression and equal participation.

20 Mar 2023

Deep Sea Conservation Coalition Reaction

20/3/23

An article published yesterday (19 March) in the New York Times highlights concerns by International Seabed Authority (ISA) State delegates surrounding a lack of impartiality of the ISA’s Secretary General. The article points to the pro-mining agenda of the ISA Secretary General – the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC) calls for urgent reform of the Authority.

4 Aug 2022

Source: Green Rocks

Author: Ian Morse

Mariama Williams grew up among Jamaica’s sugarcane plantations, not too far from what would become the ISA headquarters. For the last two decades, she has been teaching and advising governments on feminist economics. She has authored or edited four volumes on finance with a lens on gender. Her latest explores gender in climate finance, setting her up to be a lead author on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s latest chapter about investment and finance. One of its main findings is that global capital isn’t flowing where climate action needs it.

4 Aug 2022

Source: Greenpeace

Author: Kayla Hemana

It baffles me to think that some rich fella across the world somewhere is planning to mine the ocean floor. Has humanity not learnt enough about our impact on the world already? It’s frightening when you think about the prospect of corporates mining the deep sea, potentially destroying any chance of its recovery, for profit.