Arctic seabed mission documents fragile marine life threatened by Norway's deep-sea mining plans

A month-long Arctic seabed mission off Norway’s coast documented fragile deep-sea ecosystems and gathered evidence potentially relevant to planned seabed mining. Scientists on the expedition, run by Greenpeace, used remotely operated vehicles to explore seamounts and hydrothermal vents as deep as 3,000 metres. The research team filmed rare species, including a Dumbo octopus, and collected more than 400 sponge samples, identifying several that may be new to science. The effort drew over 450,000 viewers on social media via livestreaming. The surveyed area was opened for deep-sea mining by the Norwegian government in 2024, and exploration has been paused until at least 2029 following objections from environmental groups, scientists, fishing communities, and opposition parties. Researchers warned that deep-sea life recovers slowly, and climate change may worsen risks. Findings are expected to support proposals for marine protected areas in Norwegian waters.