Voices calling for a moratorium

CONVENTION ON MIGRATORY SPECIES (CMS) RESOLUTION COP14, 2023

Member States at CMS COP14 adopted a resolution on deep-sea mining that urges member countries not to engage in, or support, deep-sea mining until sufficient and robust scientific information has been obtained to ensure that deep-sea mining exploitation activities do not cause harmful effects on migratory marine species, their prey and ecosystems.

CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (CBD) COP15, 2022 

Adopted by Member States at CBD COP15, Resolution 15/24 – Conservation and sustainable use of marine and coastal biodiversity, ” Encourages Parties and invites other Governments to ensure that, before deep seabed mineral exploitation activities take place, the impacts on the marine environment and biodiversity are sufficiently researched and the risks understood, the technologies and operational practices do not cause harmful effects to the marine environment and biodiversity, and appropriate rules, regulations and procedures are put in place by the International Seabed Authority, in accordance with the best available science and the traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples and local communities with their free, prior and informed consent, and the precautionary and ecosystem approaches, and in a manner that is consistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and other relevant international law.”

IUCN WORLD CONGRESS 2021

In September 2021, IUCN members at the World Conservation Congress voted overwhelmingly in favour of motion 069, calling for “protection of deep-ocean ecosystems and biodiversity through a moratorium on seabed mining”. Eighty-one percent of the governments and government agencies present, and 95% of the NGOs, supported the motion, which later became Resolution 122. The Resolution calls on all the IUCN’s State Members to support and implement a moratorium on deep seabed mining unless and until a set of conditions have been met, including the reform of the International Seabed Authority. This sent a strong message to governments that there is global opposition to deep-sea mining.

Among governments and government agencies, 81 voted for the moratorium, with 18 against and 28 abstentions. Among NGOs and civil society organisations, the vote was 577 for, 32 against and 35 abstentions.