From Exploration to Stewardship: Can Seamount Exploration Balance the Blue Economy and Deep‑Sea Protection?

12/10/2025
11:00 - 12:30
Central Stage 4 , Hybrid (onsite with livestreaming)
Session with interpretation

Why attend

Experts debate how blue economy opportunities, such as bioprospecting and others, can be balanced with conserving vulnerable deep-sea ecosystems, such as those associated with seamounts. Attendees gain insights on reconciling economic and environmental priorities and will identify key scientific knowledge gaps to support evidence-based governance of the deep ocean.

Session Description

This debate will explore whether deep-sea resource extraction can coexist with biodiversity protection. Panelists will include a Deep Ocean resource extraction representative, Deep Ocean conservationist, and two Deep Ocean scientists. The proposition argues that responsible extraction supports economic growth and innovation, while the opposition emphasizes the irreplaceable ecological value of deep-sea ecosystems. The science experts will provide data and evidence to help shape potential compromise solutions.