(MENAFN) In a bold public demonstration, Greenpeace campaigners installed an enormous 10-meter (33-foot) octopus sculpture in front of Germany’s parliamentary building on Monday.

The eye-catching protest aimed to raise awareness and apply pressure for an immediate suspension of proposed deep-sea mining operations, coinciding with the onset of crucial international discussions.

More than a dozen demonstrators participated in the event, displaying placards bearing messages such as "Declare a moratorium - stop deep-sea mining" and "Protect the deep sea."

The event was intentionally timed to align with the annual meeting of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) in Jamaica, where 170 participating nations are set to debate regulatory frameworks for extracting minerals from the ocean floor in international territories.

According to Anna Saito, a deep-sea mining specialist with Greenpeace, "The German government needs to make a clear commitment against the start of deep-sea mining to prevent irreversible damage to the seabed."

She further urged that "They must advocate for a global moratorium that stops the exploitation of the deep sea."

Germany is currently authorized to explore a 75,000 square kilometer region rich in manganese nodules, located in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone of the central Pacific Ocean.

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