A Global Deep-Sea Scientific Consultation to Assist Policymakers in Forming Decisions on Deep-Sea Mining

Abstract

In October 2023, French President Emmanuel Macron requested an international scientific consultation to synthesize the ‘‘scientific evidence concerning the serious risks that the international community would take by allowing the exploitation of the deep sea.” In response, we created an international scientific committee of 17 members to compile expert advice and recommendations from deep-sea scientists and a large range of knowledge holders from around the globe. Scientific committee members were selected to represent diverse genders and geographical backgrounds, providing expertise in both natural and social sciences within the fields of deep-sea research, ocean governance, mineral resources, environmental economics, ecosystem management, and oceanography. Through a six-month consultation, the scientific committee created two outputs: (1) a brief position statement backed with signatures and (2) a longer expert question and answer document. Major themes of both outputs include the deep-sea environment, environmental impacts from deep sea mining (DSM), socio-economic aspects of DSM, potential legal issues, uncertainties, and looking to the future. Through compiling expert advice, insight, and recommendations, the findings in both outputs call for support towards a global deep-sea mining moratorium. Calls for a DSM moratorium or precautionary pause are gaining momentum internationally, led by the need for more time to conduct research to reduce uncertainties of impacts on the seafloor, the water column, and associated biodiversity. By engaging experts from across disciplines and geographies, we ensured the outputs were not only scientifically credible but also contextually relevant and globally resonant. It is through this international and transdisciplinary approach that the global deep-sea consultation was able to deliver inclusive and comprehensive insights to bridge the science-policy interface within the DSM debate.

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Identifiers

DOI

10.5194/oos2025-586

Journal

Unknown journal

Year

2025