This consultation worked on two main outputs: a brief position statement backed with signatures, and an expert question and answer booklet.

Q&A

Q&A booklet featuring 32 pressing questions on deep-sea mining, answered by international experts to inform policymakers:

Scientific Proclamation

Scientific Proclamation, a co-created position statement on deep-sea mining backed with the signatures of all 17 Scientific Committee Members and translated into French and Spanish:

Our scientific committee members were selected to represent diverse genders and geographical backgrounds, providing expertise in both natural and social sciences within the fields of deep-sea research, ocean governance, mineral resources, environmental economics, ecosystem management, and oceanography.

Our international and transdisciplinary approach aims to deliver inclusive and comprehensive insights to bridge the science-policy interface within the deep-sea mining debate.

Through compiling expert advice, insight, and recommendations from experts across disciplines and geographies, this Towards IPOS pilot project produces scientifically credible, contextually relevant, and globally resonant recommendations.

These outputs were launched on the 31st of March 2025 at the SOS Ocean event in Paris, France and will be featured at the One Ocean Science Congress (3-6 June 2025) and UN Ocean Conference (28 May - 13 June 2025).

Contributors

Scientific Committee Members

Diva Amon, Trinidad and Tobago

Sergio Cambronero, Costa Rica

Patrick d’Hugues, France

Elva Escobar-Briones, Mexico

Judith Gobin, Costa Rica

Bleuenn Guilloux, France

Peter M. Haugan, Norway

Nathalie Hilmi, Monaco

Baban Shravan Ingole, India

Aline Jaeckel, Australia

Lisa A. Levin, USA

Sandor Mulsow, Chile

Ricardo Serrão Santos, Portugal

Pradeep Singh, Malaysia

Alanna Matamaru Smith, The Cook Islands

Torsten Thiele, Germany

Hiroyuki Yamamoto, Japan

Participating Experts - Q&A

Elisa Morgera, UK

Vanessa Lopes, Cabo Verde

Kerry Sink, South Africa

Alycia Smith, UK

Gideon Sarpong, Ghana

Anna Metaxas, Canada

Sheena Talma, Seychelles

Sabine Gollner, The Netherlands

Baban Ingole, India

Endalew Lijalem Enyew, Norway

Transform Aqorau, Solomon Islands

Sophia Laarissa, Morocco

Houangninan Midinoudewa, Benin

Jonathon Moses, Norway

Bobbi-Jo Dobush, USA

Mehdi Remaoun, Algeria

Hannah Lily, UK

Edwin Egede, UK

Maila Guilhon, Brazil

Andrew D. Thaler, USA

Guillaume Bertrand, France

Jean-Dominique Senard, France

Victor L. Vescovo, USA

TBA21 Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary, Spain

Reflections and Next Steps

Towards IPOS is honoured to have been part of this important international scientific consultation on deep-sea mining (DSM). This joint venture, carried out in partnership with Bruno David, was an opportunity to explore best practices for delivering rigorous science to inform policy, providing a working pilot study while IPOS was shaping its services and processes.

Read our document "Reflections and next steps".

Image courtesy of OceanX

Please direct any questions regarding the Global Deep Sea Consultation to our Deep Sea Coordinator, Kelsey Archer Barnhill at kelsey.barnhill[at]ipos.earth

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