This morning, Austria became the 32nd country to advocate for a precautionary pause, moratorium, or ban on deep-sea mining. They are joined by five more countries that have recently opposed this practice.
Before this surge of support, 27 nations had already voiced their stance against deep-sea mining. This recent boost represents a nearly 20% increase in support, signaling growing momentum in the movement.
Here’s a brief overview of how the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC)) has arrived at this point:
- June/July 2022: President Surangel Whipps of Palau initiated an alliance for a moratorium on deep-sea mining at the UN Ocean Conference. Meanwhile, the Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA), led by Daniel Caceres, began advocating against deep-sea mining at the International Seabed Authority (ISA).
- July 2023: President Whipps and I co-authored an op-ed for TIME, raising broader awareness of the issue. Additionally, SOA became the first youth-led organization recognized as an Observer at the ISA.
- June 2024: HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver featured deep-sea mining, significantly expanding public awareness.
- July 2024: Austria, Malta, Tuvalu, Honduras, and Guatemala called for a precautionary pause at the ISA Assembly meeting.
- August 2024: Await the next country to join the movement.
Stay tuned for updates. The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition – Protecting the deep for us all.
