Later this July, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) will convene its Council and Assembly meetings in Kingston, Jamaica. During its last meeting in March, allies of the deep sea mining (DSM) industry made an unsuccessful attempt to ban Greenpeace from future meetings. Now, they are gearing up for another push to gain approval for deep-sea mining. But we won’t stand by and let this happen—we need your help to stop them!

The deep sea is home to mysterious creatures, many of which we know very little about. If deep-sea mining is allowed to proceed, countless species, including those yet to be discovered, could be lost forever. 

Take the Ghost Octopus, for example. This enchanting creature was only discovered in 2016, and one of the few things we know about it is that it relies on manganese nodules—the very nodules the mining industry wants to exploit—to lay its eggs.

Action Lights up Island in Ottawa to Oppose Deep Sea Mining. © Andrew Jehan / Greenpeace
Greenpeace Canada activists installed a 48-by-30-foot octopus, made of more than 1,000 LED lights, on Ottawa’s Maple Island to bring attention to deep sea mining. The ghost octopus held one banner from its tentacles reading “Stop Deep Sea Mining!” and shouted “Protect my home, Minister Joly!” in English and “Protégez ma maison, ministre Joly!” in French via a speech bubble. © Andrew Jehan / Greenpeace

We’re calling on all Greenpeace volunteers, supporters, and ocean lovers to join us in creating a powerful symbol of resistance. And it’s even a fun activity for kids of all ages! Let’s paint octopuses on pebbles, stones, or rocks to craft a Ghost Octopus rock garden. This art will serve as a tribute to the incredible lifeforms that could be wiped out by deep-sea mining.

Here’s what you can do

Paint for the Deep Sea: Grab some pebbles, stones, or rocks, eco-friendly paint and paint octopuses on them. You can be as creative and colorful as you like!

Create Your Rock Garden: Arrange your painted octopuses in a visible place—your garden, a local park, or a community center. Share photos on your social media with the hashtag #StopDeepSeaMining tagging Greenpeace Canada and the link to the petition: https://act.gp/4cpPf2S

Pebble painting by Sarah King
We’re calling on all Greenpeace volunteers, supporters, and ocean lovers to join us in creating a powerful symbol of resistance. And it’s even a fun activity for kids of all ages! Let’s paint octopuses on pebbles, stones, or rocks to craft a Ghost Octopus rock garden. This art will serve as a tribute to the incredible lifeforms that could be wiped out by deep-sea mining.

Spread the Word: Tell your friends and family about the threats of deep sea mining and encourage them to join in.

Sign and share the petition: You will receive updates on the ISA meetings and other ways you can help protect our oceans.

Sign and share the petition

Together, we can make our voices heard and show the world that we value our oceans and the life they harbour more than profit. Let’s unite to protect the deep sea and its hidden treasures from irreversible damage.