Following immense pressure from activists, scientists, and the international community, the Norwegian government has agreed to halt the first licensing round for deep sea mining in Arctic waters.
“This is a significant victory! Through the collective efforts of activists, environmentalists, scientists, and fishermen, we have achieved a historic win for ocean conservation by stopping the deep sea mining process in Norway. The global opposition to deep sea mining is gaining momentum. We refuse to allow this industry to damage the unique ecosystems of the deep sea, both in the Arctic and beyond,” stated Haldis Tjeldflaat Helle, a campaigner for deep sea mining at Greenpeace Nordic.
In January, the Norwegian government initiated exploration for deep sea mining in a vast area equivalent to the size of Italy, located between Svalbard and Jan Mayen Island in the Arctic. By June, the government announced the commencement of the first licensing round with plans to issue exploitation licenses by early 2025. However, following budget negotiations with the Socialist Left party, the government has agreed to suspend the first licensing round for the entirety of 2025.
The Norwegian proposal for seabed mining has drawn strong reactions from the international community. The EU Commission has expressed serious concerns about the environmental consequences of the plans. A group of 119 European parliamentarians penned an open letter to their Norwegian counterparts urging them to halt the opening process, while over 900 ocean scientists have called for a global pause on deep sea mining.
“Putting an end to Norway’s deep sea mining aspirations is a crucial step in preventing the destruction of marine life deep beneath the ocean’s surface. Any government committed to sustainable ocean management cannot support deep sea mining. It is disappointing to witness Norway positioning itself as a leader in ocean conservation while planning to greenlight the destruction of its own marine habitats,” added Haldis Tjeldflaat Helle.
“Millions of people worldwide are demanding that governments resist the grave threat of deep sea mining to protect oceans globally. This marks a significant progress in safeguarding the Arctic, and it is now time for Norway to join over 30 nations advocating for a moratorium and become a true champion for ocean preservation,” stated Greenpeace International Stop Deep Sea Mining campaigner Louisa Casson.
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