EMB Future Science Brief #12 Deep Sea & Ocean Health

The document addresses the critical importance of the deep sea, defined as Ocean areas below 200 meters, which constitutes 90% of the Ocean's volume and supports essential ecosystem services and biodiversity. Despite its significance, deep-sea ecosystems are under threat from climate change and human activities like oil extraction, fishing, and potential mining or ocean-based climate interventions. The document highlights the need for substantial investments in deep-sea research to fill knowledge gaps and inform sustainable management.
It presents recommendations for policy and management, emphasizing the EU's potential role in leading international efforts to better govern deep-sea activities, establish scientific committees for deep-sea protection, and develop standardized impact assessments. Additionally, it calls for funding of transdisciplinary research and long-term monitoring to understand Ocean health over time and space. The document also stresses the need for global capacity building, to recognize science as a human right, promote technology transfer, and support underrepresented nations in deep-sea research. These efforts aim to protect and sustainably manage the deep sea, ensuring the health of the Ocean and the planet for future generations.