(MENAFN) Greenpeace activists staged a striking protest outside Germany’s parliament on Monday, unveiling a colossal 10-meter (33-foot) octopus model to urgently call for a halt to deep-sea mining initiatives just as pivotal international talks began.

The protest included over a dozen demonstrators brandishing banners that declared, “Declare a moratorium - stop deep-sea mining” and “Protect the deep sea,” emphasizing their demand for swift action.

This demonstration coincided with the launch of the International Seabed Authority’s (ISA) annual conference in Jamaica, where representatives from 170 member nations are set to debate regulatory frameworks for mining activities in international waters.

Anna Saito, Greenpeace’s deep-sea mining expert, stressed, “The German government needs to make a clear commitment against the start of deep-sea mining to prevent irreversible damage to the seabed.”

She added, “They must advocate for a global moratorium that stops the exploitation of the deep sea.”

Germany currently holds exploration rights over a vast 75,000 square kilometer stretch of the Clarion-Clipperton Zone in the Central Pacific, an area rich in manganese nodules.

Environmental advocates have sharply criticized Germany’s stance, which endorses only a “precautionary pause” instead of imposing a full moratorium, effectively allowing groundwork for future mining operations to proceed.

The ISA talks, which will continue through July 25, are viewed as a decisive moment for shaping the rules that will govern international deep-sea mining and the protection of marine ecosystems.

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