Scientists call for a permanent ban on exploitation in international waters

2025/06/04 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

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Several renowned scientists have come together to definitively ban offshore exploitation: fishing, seabed mining, and oil and gas extraction. The petition, published in the journal Nature, makes it clear that the ban is essential to protect marine biodiversity, climate and equity. In addition, it is a decisive measure to comply with the Biodiversity Framework signed in 2022, which protects 30% of the oceans by 2030.

In the article, four reasons for invoking the ban are highlighted. On the one hand, climate stability. The oceans are the largest and safest carbon deposits on the planet. On the other hand, biodiversity and fisheries: the ban would allow a number of species that are fished in international waters to recover, thus also making them available to territories in the global South. As for oil and gas, it has been said that there is no climatic reason for the extraction of fossil fuels in international waters. And finally, they say similar about deep seabed mining, adding that it can be very dangerous for the environment and the climate.

On fuels and minerals, they also said that those on dry land need to be better exploited: in a more sustainable way, better governance and more transparency. The need for the rapid development of green energy has also been highlighted.

Among the signatories are renowned scientists from all fields: oceanographers, climate scientists, fishing experts, economists, ecologists, etc. They have mentioned the International Water Treaty adopted by the United Nations in 2023. They acknowledge that it paved the way for greater protection in the future, but nevertheless consider it urgent to take action as soon as possible. In their view, the prohibition request is nothing alternative or extreme; it is feasible and indispensable, as was the Convention for the Protection of Antarctica at the time.