press release

16 March, 2023

DSCC Media Release

For release 16.3.22

An international meeting in Kingston, Jamaica begins today, to negotiate regulations that if approved, would permit the largest mining operation in human history to begin in our ocean, as early as July 2023. The meeting will take place from 16-31 March, however, as negotiations get underway, concerns surrounding the emerging industry are at an all-time high. The Deep Sea Conservation (DSCC) will be present throughout negotiations in Kingston. 

Continue reading AS THE INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY CONTINUE THE RUSH TO MINE THE DEEP OCEAN, RESISTANCE GROWS

27 October, 2022

DSCC REACTION

For immediate release 27.10.22

Just days before the International Seabed Authority meets in Jamaica, seeking to continue the rush to mine the deep, New Zealand joins the growing wave of concern, declaring its support for a moratorium on the risky industry.

The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC) welcomed the news from New Zealand, with Phil McCabe, Pacific Lead for the Coalition commenting: “We applaud Aotearoa New Zealand for taking a position that reflects the values of New Zealanders and ocean people everywhere. This call echoes our domestic experience as well, where seabed mining has been shown to be environmentally, socially and legally unacceptable. New Zealand now joins others taking a leadership role internationally to defend our shared ocean from destructive deep-sea mining.” 

Continue reading New Zealand call for a moratorium on destructive deep-sea mining in international waters

23 September, 2022

PRESS RELEASE

23.9.22


The European Union has agreed new measures to protect seamounts from bottom trawling, showing up the New Zealand government’s inaction on the issue, environment groups said today. 

Meanwhile, a NIWA study released this week has revealed that there are 1,996 seamounts and features in New Zealand waters. A proposal is being pushed by industry that only recognises 7% of these seamounts, and would leave all the areas they currently  trawl unprotected.

Continue reading EU protects deep sea life from bottom trawling, as new science shows up NZ industry proposal 

15 September, 2022

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release – 15.9.22

Today’s announcement by Virginijus Sinkevičius, the European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries will close over 16,000 square kilometers of the deep sea to bottom fishing in EU waters of the Northeast Atlantic. This will bring much needed protection to deep-sea corals, sponges and other habitat forming species off the Atlantic coasts of Ireland, France, Spain and Portugal.

Continue reading EU protects 16,000 km2 of vulnerable deep-sea life

2 August, 2022

MEDIA RELEASE

This week, from August 2-3, in New York, a United Nations workshop will explore how far States have come in safeguarding fragile deep sea ecosystems from the damage caused by industrial deep sea bottom trawl fishing. The DSCC calls on the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to finish the job the UNGA began in 2004 and insist that high seas fishing nations protect deep-sea biodiversity.

Continue reading UN urged to take critical action to protect marine life from industrial deep sea bottom trawl fishing

25 July, 2022

Press Release

Six years after the adoption of the EU deep-sea fishing Regulation that prohibited bottom trawling below 800 meters in EU waters, the EU has finally adopted an ‘Implementing Act’ to begin closing coldwater coral and other biologically diverse deep-sea vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) below 400 meters depth to bottom fishing. 

Civil society welcomes this long-awaited protection of VMEs. The adopted protective measures are, however, already under threat.

Continue reading Civil society urges immediate action to protect fragile deep sea ecosystems

19 April, 2022

MEDIA RESPONSE

An article which appeared in the LA Times today has raised serious concerns about the conduct, integrity and effectiveness of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the intergovernmental body charged by the UN with safeguarding the deep ocean. 

Continue reading Civil society reacts to reports of a catalog of criticism levelled at the International Seabed Authority and calls for an immediate independent review

17 March, 2022

PRESS RELEASE

States attending the 27th meeting of the  International Seabed Authority (ISA)  should call for  a moratorium on deep-sea mining and hit the brakes on the rush to adopt mining regulations.

The special meeting, held in Kingston, Jamaica, will run from Monday 21st March to April 1st and will see the ISA pushing for regulations that would enable the imminent start of exploitation in the deep ocean.

Continue reading Civil society strongly opposes the rush to mine the deep sea and calls for a moratorium on risky deep-sea mining