OceanCare welcomes Austria’s announcement of joining over 30 other countries in calling for a precautionary pause on deep-sea mining activities.

PRESS COMMENT – 31 July 2024

OceanCare Welcomes Austrian Opposition to Deep-Sea Mining

• The Austrian government announced today at the Assembly meeting of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) in Kingston, Jamaica, its support for a precautionary pause on deep-sea mining.
• Over 30 countries have already joined actors from science, business, finance, and civil society in calling for a moratorium, precautionary pause, or a ban on this speculative and destructive industry.

OceanCare welcomes Austria’s announcement of joining other countries in calling for a precautionary pause on deep-sea mining activities, due to the lack of sufficient scientific information that would be needed for responsible and informed decision-making. Austria becomes one of over 30 countries positioning themselves against this speculative extractive industry.

Nicolas Entrup, Director of International Relations at OceanCare, said:

“We are pleased to see that Austria joins a growing number of States in expressing their concern over deep-sea mining and in expressing their support for a precautionary pause. Countries who have not yet done so should follow Austria and the over 30 other governments in resisting pressure from a small group of States and mining companies advocating for this highly risky and destructive activity to proceed.

“Given the devastating impact this exploitative activity could have on marine life, especially in one of the most fragile and mysterious, yet poorly understood ecosystems on the planet, we must stand firm against any efforts to open this irreversible Pandora’s box.

“We urge all States of the ISA Assembly to actively advance the establishment of a General Policy for the protection of the marine environment that puts the environment and climate first.”

OceanCare has been working closely with the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC), the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) and WWF Austria to urge the Austrian government to take a definite stance in support of protecting the deep sea from industrial activities.

With its recently launched international petition " Because Our Planet Is Blue", OceanCare is calling for a global moratorium on deep-sea mining until there is a comprehensive scientific understanding of deep-sea ecosystems that shows it is possible to protect the environment from its harmful effects and prevent damage to deep-sea flora and fauna.

ENDS

Media contact

• Dániel Fehér, Strategic Communications Lead OceanCare: +49 176 81434026; dfeher@oceancare.org

Publications

• OceanCare press release (26/07/2024): Deep-Sea Mining: ISA Meeting is Urged to Put Environment and Climate First
• OceanCare report (2021): Deep-Sea Mining – a noisy affair
• OceanCare Petition “Because Our Planet Is Blue”: www.ourplanetisblue.org

Image material

• Deep Sea Conservation Coalition infographic: 32 Countries Say No to Deep-Sea Mining

About OceanCare

OceanCare is an international marine conservation non-governmental organisation, founded in Switzerland in 1989. The organisation pursues the protection and restoration of the marine environment and marine wildlife with a strong policy focus, combining research, conservation projects and education. OceanCare’s remit includes marine pollution, climate change, marine mammal hunting and the environmental consequences of fisheries. Its work is supported by a team of scientific, legal and policy experts, and involves strategic collaboration with civil society organisations and coalitions around the world. OceanCare is an officially accredited partner and observer to several UN conventions and other international fora.  www.oceancare.org

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OceanCare
Dániel Fehér, Strategic Communications Lead
Gerbestrasse 6
CH-8820 Waedenswil - Switzerland
+49 176 81434026 
dfeher@oceancare.org
www.oceancare.org