How industrial waste threatens Norway's marine ecosystems

Norway has the world's largest national marine area in relation to its size, and this marine area is both a source of food and a natural resource of immense value – both nationally and globally. However, images from Sandsfjorden, taken by NMF, show how environmentally harmful activities from land are already affecting our fjords. NMF's investigations reveal that the fjord bottom down to depths of over 90 meters is covered with a layer of silt and stone particles, waste from Norsk Stein AS's quarry. What should have been an ecosystem rich in corals and wildlife now appears as a barren landscape of gray particles covering everything – even the vertical cliff walls of the fjord. This illustrates a disturbing reality: even a nation with high environmental ambitions cannot protect its marine ecosystems from damage when economic interests outweigh the concerns for nature.

NMF's documentation of the damage serves as a clear warning against opening up seabed mining. If a land-based activity can have such significant negative effects on a marine ecosystem, how can we expect to extract minerals from the seabed—hundreds of meters below the surface and miles away from the nearest coast—without harming the marine environment? This question is central when we consider whether Norway should allow deep-sea mining.

Increasing preassure on the sea as a food source

The ocean's role as a food source is becoming increasingly important in a time when global food supply is under pressure. Norway is more than halfway dependent on imported food, and conflicts, such as the ongoing tensions with Russia, make access to fertilizer and agricultural products more uncertain. Many countries from which Norway imports food may experience declines in crops in the coming years, partly due to reduced access to vital inputs like synthetic fertilizers. This increases pressure on marine resources, which may be crucial in the future to ensure food availability. The question that must be asked is simple: If we weaken the ocean's productive capacity by opening it to seabed mineral extraction, where will we then source our food from?

Marine food supply, through fish, shellfish, and other marine species, is a valuable and renewable resource that can sustain itself under proper management. Gambling with this resource by opening the seabed to mineral extraction not only jeopardizes Norway's food security but also the ability to contribute to an increasing global population that relies on food. We can eat fish and other marine resources, but we cannot eat copper or cobalt. The value of money and minerals drastically diminishes when food becomes scarce.

Mineral extraction on the seabed: An unacceptable risk

Norway's marine areas are considered some of the most productive in the world. The marine ecosystems here are intricately connected, with each region playing a vital role in maintaining balance. Every part of the marine environment, from fjords to deep seas, contributes to a complex ecosystem that is already under immense pressure. Fish stocks, coral reefs, and other critical habitats are stressed by human activities and climate change. Imposing further strain on these areas by allowing mineral extraction from the seabed could have irreversible consequences. If we cannot carry out land-based mining without significant harm to nature, it is naive to think we can do it on the seabed – unseen, uncontrolled, and without catastrophic environmental damage.

An international responsibility for sustainability

Norges Miljøvernforbund argues that Norway must take the lead in sustainable policies by implementing a moratorium on seabed mineral extraction, with the goal of protecting these areas at least until 2030. There is still much we do not know about the consequences of deep-sea mining. In line with the precautionary principle, which underpins the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 14 on life below water, Norway has a responsibility to ensure that our management of the ocean is both sustainable and long-term. Rushing into seabed mineral extraction without comprehensive knowledge of the consequences will be a short-term solution with potentially catastrophic outcomes.

Norway has a unique opportunity to set the standard for how marine areas are managed in a world where the need for sustainable resources is becoming increasingly urgent. When Norway takes responsibility, other countries look to us as an example of how rich resources can be managed for the common good. A nation like Norway, with significant marine responsibility and a tradition of environmental protection, must therefore choose caution over risk.

Conclution

The sea is a source of food, work, and biodiversity – values that are far more resilient and long-term than the short-term gains of mineral extraction. The Norwegian Environment Association urges Norwegian authorities to take a clear stance against seabed mining and instead work towards an international ban on such activities. In a time where both climate change and human activities are pushing the limits of marine ecosystems, we cannot afford to expose these areas to further risk. The precautionary principle must guide us. The sea is a finite resource, and to ensure it can nourish future generations, we must act responsibly and prioritize long-term sustainability over short-term profit.

• Norges Miljøvernforbunds høringsuttalelse
• OEDs høringsside utvinning havbunssmineraler