Together we can stop deep-sea mining

Dear Friends and Supporters,

The past few months have brought encouraging progress for ocean protection, both at the international policy level and through our growing outreach and advocacy.

As we write, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) Assembly is taking place in Kingston, Jamaica. We are on the ground following negotiations closely, advocating for the deep sea and ensuring that civil society remains present in these critical discussions about the future of our shared ocean.

There is encouraging news. Following Malawi, Madagascar and Kenya, Mauritius and Mozambique have now joined the growing coalition calling for a precautionary pause or moratorium on deep-sea mining. Forty-five governments now support this position, reflecting a growing international consensus that we must not rush into industrializing one of Earth's least understood ecosystems.

At the same time, pressure continues from deep-sea mining proponents to finalize the Mining Code, despite major unresolved questions surrounding scientific knowledge, environmental safeguards, governance, and legal obligations under international law. The coming months will be critical in determining the future of the deep ocean.

ADVANCING THE LOST CITY INITIATIVE

Our Lost City Initiative continues to move forward, with new partners joining the effort and the launch of Artists for the Deep, our international cultural movement inviting artists, musicians, filmmakers, writers, and other creators to stand up for the protection of the deep sea.

The first artists have already joined the movement, making a creative commitment to protect the deep ocean and supporting the call for The Lost City to receive lasting protection as a High Seas Marine Protected Area.

We look forward to growing this creative community and bringing its collective voice into cultural spaces and international ocean policy discussions.

BRINGING THE DEEP OCEAN INTO THE CONVERSATION

Over the past few months, The Ocean and Us has continued to advocate for deep-sea protection through international conferences, media, public events, and partnerships, bringing the deep ocean into conversations on biodiversity, climate, justice, and sustainable development.

Farah Obaidullah contributed to a range of international discussions, including the Our Ocean Conference in Kenya, where she spoke about the role of women in building sustainable ocean food systems, the Ocean Justice 101 panel in Utrecht, and Katapult Future Fest, where she explored how nature and the ocean can be better represented in decision-making. Around World Ocean Day, she joined DHL Global Forwarding for a webinar on our relationship with the ocean and participated remotely in YOLA (Youth Ocean Leadership and Advocacy), an Erasmus+ initiative empowering young ocean leaders.

Media outreach also remained an important part of our work. In an opinion piece for the Dutch newspaper Trouw, Farah called on the Netherlands to support the growing international movement for a precautionary pause on deep-sea mining. She also joined Professor Brian Cox and a distinguished panel of ocean experts for a live recording of the BBC programme A Question of Science: How Can We Fix Our Oceans?, due to air later this year, and appeared on the Dutch talk-show On Air to discuss the High Seas Treaty, migratory species, and the risks posed by deep-sea mining.

We also continued engaging diverse audiences through film, dialogue, and exhibitions. On World Environment Day, we partnered with Humanity Hub in The Hague for a screening of Women from the Sea (Mulheres do Mar), followed by a discussion on ocean protection. At the Our Ocean Conference, we co-hosted an exhibition highlighting the threats posed by deep-sea mining and the solutions available to protect the deep ocean.

THANK YOU

None of this would be possible without your continued support.

Together, we are building momentum to ensure that the deep ocean is protected before it is exploited.

If you believe the deep sea deserves protection, please consider making a donation to support our work.

Thank you for standing with us and with the ocean.

Farah Obaidullah
Founder, The Ocean and Us

Links:

• Artists for the Deep
• The Ocean and Us
• Farah at the International Seabed Authority