As demand for critical minerals accelerates, attention is turning to ever more remote and fragile environments – including the deep sea. But deep-sea mining (DSM) comes with significant environmental, social, economic and regulatory risks. While these concerns have long been raised by scientists, governments, civil society and Indigenous and coastal communities, they are now increasingly echoed by the financial sector.
New analysis by Seas At Risk and the Deep Sea Mining Campaign reveals that 82 financial institutions representing around €24 trillion in assets have adopted policies restricting or raising concerns about DSM. This growing trend spans banks, asset managers, insurers and public financial institutions, with many already excluding support for the industry altogether.
Our webinar, ‘Red Lines in the Abyss’, explores these findings in more depth. We share insights from our latest research, give a critical review of The Metals Company’s pre-feasibility study outlined in a new report, and unpack what the financial sector’s response means for the future of deep-sea mining.
Posted on: 23 April 2026
