An urgent campaign from Greenpeace UK leans heavily on public awareness of deforestation as it raises awareness of the ecological threat posed by deep sea mining.
The experimental new technique involves removing mineral deposits of metals such as nickel, cobalt, copper, silver and gold from the ocean’s sea bed. Large machines are lowered down to remove the deposits, risking “severe and potentially irreversible damage” to the ocean floor and marine life.
The Greenpeace campaign, from creative agency elvis, features the copy “Deforestation is a catastrophe”, drawing a parallel with deforestation to showcase the extent of the possible destruction posed by deep sea mining. It will appear on billboards and posters across the UK, ahead of a meeting of the International Seabed Authority at which the issue will be discussed.
Working in partnership with several other NGOs – including the Environmental Justice Foundation, the Blue Marine Foundation and Fauna and Flora – Greenpeace is calling on people to support the campaign via the hashtag #stopdeepseamining.
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Activists, including 765 science and policy experts who have called for a stop to the technique, have been doing so because of fears about potential damage to deep sea ecosystems, including hydrothermal vents and abyssal plains.
“If allowed to start, deep sea mining would be a catastrophe for our oceans and marine life. The UK government calls itself a leader on ocean protection and yet it’s refusing to back calls from hundreds of scientists as well as other governments around the world for a pause or moratorium,” said Greenpeace UK head of oceans Ariana Densham.
“We have one moment in history to stop deep sea mining before it starts, which is why we’re launching this urgent campaign. We hope these simple, powerful ads, developed in partnership with elvis, will cut through the noise, grab attention, and encourage people to voice their concerns.”
Elvis creative director Alexandru Vasile said: “As the activity and consequences of deep sea mining remain under water, and our attention is captured by crises closer to home, its difficult to get people to understand the threat it poses, particularly as awareness of the issue is really low.”
