Environmental campaigners, led by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), have filed a lawsuit against the Norwegian government in an Oslo court, contesting the decision to open a vast ocean area for seabed mineral exploration. 

The lawsuit, filed on Friday, claims that the impact assessment conducted for the proposed mining activities was insufficient, thus violating Norway’s Seabed Minerals Act.

In January, Norway’s parliament approved a government proposal to explore seabed minerals in an ocean area larger than the United Kingdom. This decision followed a government-commissioned study that concluded that such exploration would have minimal environmental impact. 

However, WWF argues that this study failed to meet the minimum requirements for impact assessments stipulated by Norwegian law.

Critics of deep-sea mining, including WWF, warn that industrial activities at depths of 1,500 to 3,000 meters (5,000 to 10,000 feet) could irreparably damage marine ecosystems. These depths harbor mineral deposits and unique species, some of which may not yet be discovered. The potential for significant harm to these ecosystems has raised substantial environmental concerns.

Norway’s energy ministry has defended the decision, stating that the initial phase of exploration is intended to gather more information about the deep-sea environment and its potential impacts. Full-scale mining operations would require separate permits, involving additional scrutiny and regulatory oversight.

WWF has also expressed concerns that Norway’s decision could set a precedent for other countries, potentially leading them to pursue deep-sea mining without adequate environmental assessments. This, they argue, could undermine global efforts to protect marine biodiversity and sustainably manage ocean resources.

At least two companies have shown interest in specific ocean areas by the May 21 deadline, and the energy ministry plans to announce the first licensing round this autumn. The court hearing for the lawsuit is expected to begin within six months, according to WWF’s lawyer.