The Saami Council’s statement on Deep Sea Mining
Picture: The Saami Council / Gunn-Britt Retter
The Saami Council firmly opposes the Norwegian government's decision to open up for deep sea mining within its territorial waters. This decision, which allows for the exploration of minerals on the deep ocean floor, poses significant threats to marine ecosystems and the Indigenous Peoples’ communities who depend on them.
Deep sea mining involves the extraction of valuable minerals from the ocean floor at depths ranging from around 400 meters to over 6000 meters. While this practice is presented as a solution to meet the growing demand for metals and minerals, it threatens the fragile marine ecosystems vital for our seas' biodiversity and environmental health.
For the Sámi and other Indigenous Peoples, the ocean is not just a resource but a foundation of life, culture, and sustenance. The potential environmental degradation caused by deep sea mining could severely impact our food security, disrupt our traditional practices, and undermine our cultural heritage.
The Saami Council, recognizing the shared responsibility we all bear for protecting marine ecosystems and Indigenous Peoples’ communities, calls for urgent precautionary measures to prevent the irreversible damage that deep sea mining could cause. We emphasize the need to respect Indigenous Peoples' rights and recognize the importance of ecosystem-based management of marine resources. The health of our oceans is inextricably linked to the health of our communities, cultures, and ways of life.
“The Saami Council urgently urges the Norwegian government and international bodies to halt all deep sea mining activities and to engage in meaningful dialogue with Indigenous Peoples to develop sustainable and equitable alternatives.”
Picture: The Saami Council / Gunn-Britt Retter
We draw attention to the recent actions of the European Union, which has called for a global moratorium on deep sea mining. On February 7, 2024, the European Parliament adopted Resolution B9-0095/2024, highlighting the significant environmental risks and urging all nations to apply the precautionary approach. This position underscores the global recognition of the need to protect our marine environments from the potentially devastating impacts of deep sea mining.
The Saami Council urgently urges the Norwegian government and international bodies to halt all deep sea mining activities and to engage in meaningful dialogue with Indigenous Peoples to develop sustainable and equitable alternatives.
With the aim of creating a collective voice of Indigenous Peoples, we stand ready to collaborate with both Indigenous Peoples and others to amplify our concerns and advocate for responsible and rights-based decision-making where environmental integrity is at the core. We must prioritize the protection and sustainable management of our marine environments for the well-being of current and future generations.