Dear U.S. Members of Congress and the Biden Administration,

We are extremely concerned by the evolving interest by the U.S. Government to pursue deep-sea mining. We are unwavering in our belief that deep-sea mining is an unjustified threat to the health of our ocean and the present and future generations that depend on it. Deep-sea mining for critical metals and minerals for the "green transition" is a false choice. 

We don't want it. We don't need it. It's not worth the risk.  

The deep-sea is one of the most fragile ecosystems on our planet, yet it is one of the most poorly understood.

Here's what we know so far. Deep-sea mining would: 

• Lead to large-scale and irreversible biodiversity loss, caused by ecosystem fragmentation and destruction, noise and light pollution, wastewater, and sediment plumes that would spread to large areas beyond mining sites,
• Release stored deep-sea carbon and weaken the ocean's capacity to act as one of our planet's most significant carbon sinks,
• Destroy culturally and traditionally sacred ecosystems for Pacific Islanders and other indigenous groups, and
• Threaten economically important fisheries, such as tuna stocks, that help drive the economies of U.S. states and territories and small island developing states. 

We need to undertake scientific research to better understand the unique deep-sea biodiversity, the seabed's role in the larger climate system, the potential impacts and risks of mining to deep-sea species and ecosystems, the potential for mitigation and recovery, and the opportunities to expand the circular economy.

We stand in solidarity with stakeholders who have already voiced their opposition to deep-sea mining including 24+ countries, 810+ scientists, 80+ multinational companies and financial institutions (including Google, Rivian, Salesforce, and more), hundreds of global parliamentarians, over 1 million global citizens, and the U.S. states and territories of California, Oregon, Washington, and Guam. 

We cannot let deep-sea mining commence under the ruse of "fueling" the green energy revolution. We, as the generation inheriting the planet, recognize this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity: we can stop another extractive, unsustainable industry before it starts. 

We ask you to stand for science, stand for the ocean, and stand for the rights of current and future generations. With so much at stake, we are asking you to “Say No to Deep-sea Mining.”

Signed,