NOAA | The Hidden Ocean 2016: Chukchi Borderlands, Oceaneering-DSSI

The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC) is calling for the rejection of The Metals Company USA’s (TMC USA) application to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA ) to mine the international seabed, warning that the company is attempting to bypass the international system governing an area that belongs to humankind as a whole, a move which could cause irreversible harm to one of the least explored areas of our planet.

2J34PD0 Drilling vessel Hidden Gem of The Metals Company, is being converted in the seaport of Rotterdam, Maasvlakte, it will be the first vessel to be equipp

A new independent economic analysis has found that the promise of economic prosperity from deep-sea mining does not stand up to scrutiny, with the proposed industry likely to destroy economic value and cost governments more than it generates in public revenue. 

The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition is hiring a Finance Support Officer to help manage day-to-day finances, from invoicing to grant tracking, supporting our global work to protect deep-sea ecosystems. Netherlands-based or CET-adjacent candidates encouraged to apply by October 5, 2026.

The scientific team of the ‘Deep Wonders of T&T and the Adjacent High Seas’ expedition on-board Schmidt Ocean Institute’s R/V Falkor (too) © Mónika Naranjo González / Schmidt Ocean Institute

For the first time in its history, Trinidad and Tobago's deep sea and adjacent high seas areas were explored by a team led by Caribbeanscientists. Two young scientists onboard, share what a month at sea actually looked like from their side of the boat.

Shauna Edghill during a ship-to-shore event © Schmidt Ocean Institute

Before the ROV SuBastian of the Schmidt Ocean Institute's research vessel ever touched the deep waters of Trinidad and Tobago, Shauna Edghill was in classrooms and TV studios telling her country that most of its territory is underwater and almost entirely unexplored. This is what came next: ship-to-shore livestreams, late nights collecting and preserving deep-sea specimens, and a team that became family.

Kyle Foster during the ‘Deep Wonders of T&T and the Adjacent High Seas’ expedition on-board Schmidt Ocean Institute’s R/V Falkor (too) © Schmidt Ocean Institute

Kyle Foster spent a month at sea aboard Schmidt Ocean Institute's research vessel Falkor (too), exploring the deep waters of Trinidad and Tobago, split between two extremes of deep-sea technology, a multi-million-dollar ROV and a hand-deployable camera built for a fraction of the cost, and helped push the low-cost option to its deepest run yet: 2,240 metres.

Governments concluded three weeks of negotiations at the International Seabed Authority (ISA) with the only substantive decision being to expand the rights of mining contractors, highlighting the Authority’s misaligned priorities when the future of the deep sea is at stake

Kinematix/Greenpeace

Governments concluded two weeks of negotiations today at the International Seabed Authority (ISA) Council with the case for a moratorium on deep-sea mining even stronger than when they arrived. Over the course of the meeting, governments heard the ISA’s own experts highlight immense scientific uncertainty, confirmed that the contractor non-compliance inquiry will continue, and continued negotiating a Mining Code and wider governance framework that remains far from complete and remains inadequate to protect the marine environment and uphold equity.  

Team at the UN Bottom Fisheries workshop. From left to right: Matthew Gianni (DSCC), Amy Irvine (Oceans North), Dr Gabrielle Carmine (Georgetown University), Katie Schleit (Oceans North), Kat Goddard (Greenpeace New Zeland), Dr Amy Baco-Taylor (Florida State University), Ingrid Benschikova (Pew), Eunhee Kim (CORI); Sebastian Losada (Greenpeace International), Rae McKinney (NRDC).

Scientific evidence presented at last week’s UN Bottom Fisheries Workshop (13-14 July, New York) shows that existing measures have not prevented ongoing damage to seamounts and other vulnerable deep-sea ecosystems. The findings reinforce the DSCC’s call for governments to lock in a firm 2027 deadline to end bottom trawling on high seas seamounts.

A large piece of Paragorgia coral is hauled aboard the New Zealand bottom trawler, Waipori. © Greenpeace | Malcolm Pullman

Leading scientists, policymakers and civil society organizations will gather from 13-14 July for a critical UN workshop that could determine the future of more than 21% of the world's seabed. As part of the 2026 UN Bottom Fisheries Review, the workshop will evaluate how governments and regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs) are implementing United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolutions to protect seamounts from destructive fishing practices.