Deep seabed environment is a critical ecosystem that needs to be protected

Deep seabed mining could have serious impacts on the ocean environment and the future livelihoods and wellbeing of coastal communities. Only 3% of the oceans are protected and less than 1% of the high seas⁷, making them some of the least protected places on Earth. The emerging threat of seabed mining is an urgent wake-up call: the world’s governments must act now to protect the high seas, including by creating a global network of marine reserves⁸ that will be crucial sanctuaries at sea for marine life and the ecosystems which we all rely on for our survival. An international, multi-sector approach to management and protection is needed, if we are to ensure the health and sustainable use of our oceans.

The remote deep and open oceans host a major part of the world’s biodiversity, and are vital for our survival on Earth.⁹ The deep sea plays an important role in regulating planetary processes, including regulation of temperature and greenhouse gases.¹⁰ It supports ocean life by cycling nutrients and providing habitat for a staggering array of species.