A message from island leaders: protect the Pacific Ocean from deep-sea mining

This sacred connection, and more, compels us as collective stewards to oppose the intensifying global interest in ocean mining. Although several Pacific states are considering deep-sea mining in their EEZs, hoping for economic benefits, many Pacific communities remain strongly opposed. Pacific deep-sea mining must not advance without clear evidence of no irreversible harm1. And increased metal supply from deep-sea mining could depress global prices of these minerals, as happened in the 1970s2. The country lost US$120 million on a failed deep-sea mining project.Credit: Joerg Boethling/AlamyFor low-lying Pacific islands, these risks are existential.