Norway’s Halt Likely Signals the End of Deep Sea Mining in the Arctic

MEDIA RELEASE | Friday 12 December 2025

The Deep Sea Mining Campaign (DSMC) welcomes the Norwegian government’s decision to suspend all licensing for seabed mineral exploration and exploitation in the Arctic until at least 2029. While the move is not a formal moratorium, many note that this political freeze removes the certainty companies rely on, making investment in Norway’s deep waters increasingly implausible.

“We welcome this reinforcement of what communities, scientists, and indigenous communities have been saying for years: deep sea mining is unnecessary, unwanted, and inappropriate.” says James Hita, Communications and Advocacy Coordinator at the DSMC.

This decision significantly shifts the landscape for the sector. With uncertainty now stretching late into the decade, the commercial case for Arctic deep sea mining has effectively dissolved. Civil society organisations in Europe have already described the outcome as a “U-turn” with consequences that are likely to endure far beyond this parliamentary cycle.

 “Norway’s pause is a decisive signal that deep sea mining in the Arctic has no future. Without regulatory clarity or political backing, and against mounting scientific concern, we’re confident that industry interest will not return,” Hita adds.

Norway joins a growing international trend. Around the world, governments are reconsidering or delaying seabed mining plans, and more than 40 countries now support a moratorium or precautionary pause. Even jurisdictions such as the Cook Islands, which have previously promoted deep sea mining, are extending timelines. These delays are contributing to declining confidence in the viability of the industry.

As momentum continues to build, DSMC urges governments, particularly those negotiating at the International Seabed Authority, to align with science, apply the precautionary principle, and respond to the global call for long-term protection of the deep ocean. The only responsible immediate pathway forward is a moratorium on deep sea mining.

ENDS