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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Karen McVeigh

Germany calls for ‘precautionary pause’ before deep-sea mining industry starts

Protesters on the deck of a small sailing ship next to a huge mining vessel in a port
The climate action group Ocean Rebellion stages a protest against the deep-sea mining ship Hidden Gem, in Rotterdam in February. Photograph: Charles M Vella/Sopa/Rex/Shutterstock

Germany has called for a pause in the controversial deep-sea mining industry, saying not enough is known about the likely impacts of digging up the ocean floor for metals.

While other nations, including Spain and New Zealand, have previously called for a temporary halt to any exploitation of deep-sea metals, Germany, the world’s fourth biggest economy, is the most significant nation to voice its opposition to date. The country holds two of the 31 licences for exploration of the seabed.

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