Deep Sea-Mining: An Open Letter to UN Secretary-General Guterres for World Oceans Day 2024

On UN World Oceans Day 2024, Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) joined our partners at Deep-Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC) to urge UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, through an open letter, to secure the deep sea’s health for future generations.

The open letter, written and signed by DSCC alongside 120+ coalition members and partners, calls on Gutteres to support all UN member States to: 

• Highlight that the protection of the deep sea is a necessary and effective measure toward ending the ocean and planetary emergency.

• Enact a precautionary moratorium or pause on deep-sea mining to allow for sufficient science and understanding of the deep ocean and the impacts of deep-sea mining on the marine environment.

• Protect vulnerable marine ecosystems by withdrawing their vessels from bottom impact fishing on seamounts. By protecting seamounts and other vulnerable marine ecosystems, we protect the whole ocean.

Read the full open letter here.

Take Action for the Deep Sea

Want to support our efforts from wherever you are in the world? Here is how YOU can take action to prevent deep-sea mining:

FOLLOW US

Add your voice to SOA's calls to #DefendTheDeep across social media by resharing our posts and following us on Linkedin, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads. 

JOIN THE ALLIANCE

Take your digital advocacy a step further by joining SOA's online community platform, The Alliance! Learn from and connect with a diverse group of like-minded individuals—all working towards the common goal of preserving the health of our ocean. Make a free profile here and start interacting with members today.  

SIGN PETITIONS

• Sign SOA’s Petition Against Deep-Sea Mining, in partnership with The Oxygen Project, Only One, and Deep Sea Conservation Coalition.

• Sign the Indigenous-Led Petition Against Deep-Sea Mining with Blue Climate Initiative.

• Sign these regional petitions for the U.S., Norway, Colombia, and Argentina.

CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES 

Encourage your government and representatives to oppose the industry. More than a dozen exploration contracts issued by ISA are held by these countries: China, India, Japan, Russia, and South Korea. Contact your official representative here.