The Natural History Museum today released data showing:
- Over 90% of species in the Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ) – one of the most likely future mining sites – are undescribed by science
- A prediction that there are 6000-8000 more unknown animal species in CCZ
Responding, Ariana Densham, Head of Oceans at Greenpeace UK, said:
“This new evidence showing that the very area at the centre of the deep sea mining debate is absolutely teeming with new and undiscovered life – some of which thrives only in the fragile and undisturbed ecosystems established there – has to be a dealbreaker for those governments, like the UK, still entertaining this industry.
“To forge ahead and consider the approval of exploitation licences – as the ISA is under commercial pressure to do from this July – would be criminal. Companies at the forefront of the green transition are already calling for a halt, as are governments from Europe to the Pacific. Rishi Sunak needs to get off the fence, join those calling for a moratorium and prove that when the UK government calls itself a leader on ocean protection, those words actually mean something.”
