Ocean Rebellion: The deep-sea creatures and choir on board the Luciana and the mining vessel ‘Hidden Gem’ towers in the background, during today’s protest ‘The Deep Sea Says No’ in the Port of Rotterdam.

Why the deep sea? The deep seabed is largely unexplored, many areas have unique marine life (an estimated 10-million life forms and most are undiscovered) and many areas are important to the survival of all ocean life. Deep Sea Mining in areas like the Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCFZ) (Pacific Ocean) will destroy the deep seabed and the life that depends on it, destroying corals and sponges that have taken thousands of years to grow. The sediment plumes will rise upwards through water columns harming more life above. Toxic metals will inevitably find their way into the food chain – we just don’t know how catastrophic deep-sea mining will be when it comes to sediment release, nor do the companies involved. ‘Ocean Rebellion’

A massive area will be ruined. Recently the ISA awarded licences to mine 8,000 to 9,000 square kms of deep seabed at a time*. This area is equivalent to one third of Belgium. The 228-meter long ‘Hidden Gem’ arrived in Rotterdam in September 2021 for conversion, and will commence its pilot project in 2022. It will mine for polymetallic nodules from the ocean floor and transfer them to the surface for transportation to shore. The nodules contain high grades of nickel, manganese, copper and cobalt—key metals required for building electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy technologies. © Charles M Vella/Alamy Live News/SOPA Images