"More than a dozen NGOs call for total ban on deep seabed mining as Pacific leaders meet in Fiji", 20 February 2025

More than a dozen civil society groups are calling on Pacific governments to completely ban deep seabed mining (DSM) as regional leaders meet in Suva for a high-level meeting on deep-sea minerals on Friday.

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The Pacific Blue Line collective, made up of women, youth, faith-based, and environmental organisations, is demanding "for an outright ban on deep sea mining", saying the Pacific leaders have a "longstanding responsibility to protect the Pacific Ocean".

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The collective believes that this stance reflects a shared dedication to protecting the rights of Pacific peoples, preserving the oceans, and ensuring developments related to DSM "adhere to the principles of sustainability, human rights, and fairness for future generations".

The Pacific Blue Line collective says evidence points to the fact that mining the ocean floor poses significant environmental risks to the marine environment that are yet to be fully understood.

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