Deep-sea mining: A world of natural wonders in danger

The deep-sea accounts for 95% of the volume of the ocean. It is the largest biosphere on the planet – and home to an immeasurable number of fascinating species. What the world looks like at extreme depths of up to 11,000 metres is literally in the dark for us. We even know more about the surface of the moon than we do about the ocean floors!

This mysterious habitat is under threat: pollution, overfishing and climate change are already causing massive damage to the deep-sea. Now another danger is looming in the form of deep-sea mining. Since humans are consuming more and more raw materials due to increasing technological advances, the mineral resources of the deep-sea are coming increasingly under scrutiny. Mining for precious minerals in the deep sea can have devastating consequences.

The United Nations has declared the international seabed the «Common Heritage of Mankind». Ocean Custody aims to protect this precious habitat.

How we protect the deep-sea

Preventing overexploitation

Extracting raw materials from the deep-sea is risky. It can destroy large parts of the seabed. A moratorium is aimed at putting a stop to overexploitation.

Prevent ocean noise pollution

Deep-sea mining generates ocean noise from the seabed to the water´s surface. International regulation is urgently required to curb underwater noise.

Raising awareness

Ocean Custody documents the dangers of deep-sea mining and warns decision-makers who have it in their power to stop exploitation.

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10 facts on deep-sea mining

15 to 20 percent of all marine animals live in the deep sea.

Almost half of the Earth’s surface belongs to the deep sea.

If Mount Everest were sunk into the Mariana Trench, its summit would be more than 2 km underwater.

A plankton sample from 5,000 metres depth contained over 500 animal & plant species.

Starting at a depth of 300 metres, there is total darkness.

A shrimp that existed already 50 million years ago lives in the deep-sea.

20,000 species of bacteria were found in one litre of deep-sea water.

At a depth of 4000 metres, the pressure on animals is 400 times higher than at the sea surface.

2/3 of the jellyfish, crabs and squid in the deep sea have luminescent organs.

The largest giant squid discovered so far was over 17 metres long and weighed 1.1 tons.

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