The EJF and the DSCC has welcomed the position of key EU fisheries leader, the LDAC, who has called for a deep-sea mining moratorium as Norway prepares first licensing round
Key EU Fisheries Stakeholders Demand Deep-Sea Mining Moratorium Amid Norway’s Licensing Preparations
The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) and the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC) have expressed strong support for the Long Distance Advisory Council’s (LDAC) recent stance calling for a moratorium on deep-sea mining.
This comes as Norway prepares to open its first licensing round for deep-sea mining on its extended continental shelf, a move anticipated as early as mid-2025.
In response to the European Commission’s Draghi report, which explored potential deep-sea mining ventures, the LDAC has firmly rejected the report’s recommendations. The council cited insufficient knowledge of the long-term environmental impacts on marine ecosystems, including fisheries, as a primary concern. In a statement to EU policymakers, the LDAC voiced “significant concerns about both the environmental and socio-economic risks associated with deep-sea mining,” urging decision-makers to uphold the precautionary principle and resist premature steps towards exploiting these resources.
Norway is currently the only European nation to consider deep-sea mining in international waters, a move that has garnered opposition from a broad coalition: Norway’s environmental agency, the country’s fishing industry, scientists, NGOs, and both the European Commission and Parliament. Further compounding concerns, a Canadian mining company recently announced plans to apply to the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for a deep-sea mining licence in the North Pacific, signalling a potential increase in high-seas mining activities.
Scientific research highlights significant risks linked to deep-sea mining, including sediment plumes that could smother marine life, noise pollution, and the release of harmful contaminants into the water. These hazards threaten commercial fish populations and, by extension, the economic stability and food security of coastal communities. According to the LDAC, protecting marine biodiversity is a priority for fisheries and the broader public alike.
“Our ocean is worth more protected than plundered. LDAC’s strong stance is a powerful signal that Norway and nations around the world should listen to,” stated Steve Trent, CEO and Founder of EJF. “The science couldn’t be clearer: a stop to deep-sea mining is essential to avoid irreversible damage to precious ecosystems that communities have nurtured for centuries. The real opportunities lie in the circular economy, new battery technologies, and recycling critical materials. Nature is under enough pressure already; we don’t need to sacrifice the planet’s last wild spaces.”
Matt Gianni, Co-founder and Political Analyst for the DSCC, added: “Fishers and fishing industry organisations worldwide are increasingly recognising the threat that deep-sea mining on the high seas poses to both fisheries and the marine environment. As pro-mining companies and countries attempt to fast-track this industry, fishers must make it clear: the risks posed by deep-sea mining to fisheries are real, and this industry must not be given the green light by the International Seabed Authority.”
Source: Press Release