Indigenous Pacific activists wrapped up a sequence of advocacy efforts in Kingston, Jamaica, as the International Seabed Authority recently closed a 12-day series of meetings that included discussions on deep-sea mining regulations.
Negotiations to stop deep sea mining from starting at the International Seabed Authority in Jamaica will end today. The disappointing outcome leaves the seabed at the dangerous mercy of a destructive deep sea mining industry, despite recent success of the historic UN Ocean Treaty, and more governments calling for a precautionary pause. Today’s talks mark the last occasion that governments have to agree on how to respond to an imminent deep sea mining application before a commercially-imposed ultimatum expires in July.
Greenpeace International activists peacefully confronted UK Royal Research Ship James Cook in the East Pacific as it returned from a seven-week-long expedition to a section of the Pacific Ocean targeted for deep sea mining. An activist scaled the side of the moving vessel to unfurl a banner reading “Say No to Deep Sea Mining,” while Two Māori Indigenous activists swam in front of the RRS James Cook, one holding the Māori flag and the other a flag reading “Don’t Mine the Moana.” [1]