Greenpeace is about to depart on a month-long mission to the Arctic deep-sea. The Deep Arctic Expedition brings together world-leading scientists to explore Arctic seamounts and hydrothermal vent fields – ecosystems so remote they remain largely a mystery to humanity.
Join us onboard their specially equipped research vessel and meet some of the scientists, check out some of the gear they’re using, and see what incredible life they’re finding along the Arctic Mid Ocean Arctic Ridge– one of Earth’s least known wildernesses to depths of up to 3000 meters.
The area of the expedition was opened for deep sea mining by the Norwegian government in 2024, but was halted last year after protests from environmental organisations, scientists and the green opposition parties in Norway. Deep sea mining would, according to many scientists, cause irreversible damage to vulnerable deep-sea ecosystems, including the destruction of habitats, and possibly species extinction. The expedition will focus on exploring seamounts, which are biodiversity hotspots in the deep sea, and hydrothermal vent fields – underwater volcanic hot springs that support life in total darkness.
