San Francisco, CA — July 30, 2024
In a sign-on letter led by Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA), the world's largest network of young ocean leaders, more than 50 U.S.-based organizations call on President Biden to support a moratorium and precautionary approach to deep-sea mining in the U.S. and international waters.
The letter, written and signed by a powerful coalition of more than 50 organizations and their members and supporters from across the United States, calls on President Biden and the U.S. government to support a moratorium or precautionary pause on deep-sea mining, domestically and internationally, until and unless:
1. There is sufficient scientific information and knowledge of the deep sea and the potential environmental, social, and economic impacts of this new speculative extractive industry, and
2. It can be clearly demonstrated that deep-sea mining can be managed in such a way that ensures the effective protection of the marine environment and prevents the loss of biodiversity.
Furthermore, these organizations call on the U.S. Government to prohibit the sale, import, trading, processing, or sourcing of seabed minerals in the U.S., including through the exclusion of seabed minerals from critical mineral agreements with other countries.
At the writing of the letter, 28 countries, over 800 scientists and marine policy experts, 49 business and financial institutions, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), civil society groups and state representatives from across the U.S., and Indigenous groups from Hawai’i, the Pacific at large, and the Arctic support a moratorium, precautionary pause, or ban on deep-sea mining in international waters. Domestically, California, Hawai’i, Oregon, Washington, American Samoa, and Guam have prohibited deep-sea mining in their waters altogether.
The U.S. must heed these calls and join the group of like-minded countries and States by supporting a moratorium or precautionary pause both domestically and internationally, thereby sending a strong message of continued U.S. leadership and commitment to precaution and responsible environmental stewardship.
Read the full letter here.
Supporting Organizations:
350 Hawaii
'A'ole Deep-Sea Mining
Azul
Blue Climate Initiative
Blue Planet Alliance
Carolina Ocean Alliance
Chilli
Creation Justice Ministries
Cultivating Lives Educational Services, Inc
Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC)
EarthEcho International
Earthjustice
Environment America
Far Away Projects
Finafinau
Friends of Hanauma Bay
Friends of the Mariana Trench
FutureSwell
Goldwater Ventures
GreenLatinos
Greenpeace USA
Healthy Ocean Coalition
Hivemind
Inland Ocean Coalition
KAO Consulting
Kaua'i Climate Action Coalition
Kua'aina Ulu 'Auamo (KUA)
López-Wagner Strategies
Maui Nui Makai Network
Mission Blue
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Mystic Aquarium
National Aquarium
National Ocean Protection Coalition
Ocean Conservancy
Ocean Rescue Alliance International
Ocean River Institute
Ocean Uprise
Oceana
Oceanic Global
Oceanic Preservation Society
Patagonia
Peaceboat U.S.
SeaLegacy
Surfrider Foundation
Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA)
The Ocean Foundation
The Ocean Project
The Oxygen Project
U.S. PIRG
Wild Cumberland
Wisdom Circles Oceania
Youth Climate Collaborative
About Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA)
Sustainable Ocean Alliance is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to activating young people, developing and implementing innovative solutions, and mobilizing a global movement of ocean allies to restore the health of the ocean. In 2014, Daniela V. Fernandez founded SOA during her first year at Georgetown University to bring youth voices and solutions to the forefront of ocean sustainability and innovation.
Today, SOA has grown into the world’s largest network of young ocean leaders, innovators, and advocates. To date, the organization has accelerated over 440 ocean-based solutions to the greatest threats facing our ocean, including for-profit startups and community-led nonprofit projects worldwide.
Learn more about SOA’s campaign against deep-sea mining here.
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