Greenpeace International has released a report titled Gambling with the Deep Sea – Those Betting on Mining the Arctic, focusing on efforts by the Norwegian government and companies to initiate deep sea mining in the Arctic. Activists from Greenpeace Nordic also staged a protest against Loke Marine Minerals, a Norwegian firm pursuing seabed minerals.
Campaigner Haldis Tjeldflaat Helle said Loke Marine Minerals has disregarded warnings from scientists and civil society. She stated that the company should not be allowed to pressure governments into permitting damage to ecosystems described as among the most pristine on Earth. Helle also referenced the company name, saying it is linked to a deceitful Norse god.
Protest at Loke headquarters in Stavanger
Greenpeace Nordic activists visited Loke’s headquarters in Stavanger during the protest. The group brought a giant inflatable pink octopus and a “deep sea betting” slot machine. Activists replaced the company logo with text reading “Loke – playing tricks again.”
Actor Gustaf Skarsgård joined the protest as a Greenpeace ambassador alongside his brother Valter Skarsgård. Skarsgård said oceans face a crisis linked to climate change, overfishing, and pollution. He added that deep sea mining would affect an ecosystem he described as among the last protected from human exploitation.
Loke’s licenses and targeted seabed materials
In March 2023, Loke acquired UK Seabed Resources, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin. The acquisition included exploration licenses for deep sea mining in the Clarion Clipperton Zone in the Pacific Ocean. Loke is also seeking exploitation licenses in areas opened by the Norwegian government for Arctic mining.
The Arctic effort targets manganese crusts, which are described as taking millions of years to form. The company’s licensing approach therefore spans both exploration in the Pacific and exploitation applications connected to Norwegian Arctic openings.
Opposition from Indigenous groups and major companies
The initiative has faced backlash from Indigenous communities, particularly in the Pacific region. Opposition has also been expressed by the Saami Council and the Inuit Circumpolar Council of Greenland.
Numerous environmental groups and scientists have called for a ban or pause on deep sea mining. Major companies including Google, Apple, and BMW have also been cited as supporting such a ban or pause.