Greenpeace underwater robot sets record for the world’s deepest protest from Arctic seabed
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  • Press Release

Greenpeace underwater robot sets record for the world’s deepest protest from Arctic seabed

Greenpeace UK Press Office
Greenpeace UK Press Office

Photo and video available here 

An underwater robot has set a new record for the world’s deepest protest after revealing a banner saying ‘LISTEN TO THE SCIENCE!’ 1.4 miles (2.3 km) below the surface. The feat was achieved during a Greenpeace scientific survey of vulnerable and unexplored deep-sea ecosystems between Iceland and Svalbard.

The banner was submerged to 2,315 metres below sea level by the expedition’s remotely operated vehicle ‘ROV Holly’ and held up in front of a hydrothermal vent field known as ‘Loki’s Castle’, located along the Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge.

The Arctic is one of the most rapidly changing regions on Earth due to climate change, and faces a direct threat from the prospect of deep-sea mining. Greenpeace is warning that these unique ‘biodiversity hotspots’ are at risk of irreversible disruption.

Dr. Sandra Schöttner, chief scientist for the Deep Arctic Expedition at Greenpeace International, said: “This marks the deepest banner protest in history, to speak for ecosystems that have no voice of their own. World leaders have already promised to protect 30 percent of the oceans, now they must listen to the science and actually do it. We cannot meet our global goals if we also allow industrial exploitation of unexplored and vulnerable ecosystems in the deep sea. It is high time that leaders keep their promises and give the oceans a chance to recover.”

Loki’s Castle is a unique volcanic ecosystem containing active chimneys that spew out fluid from deep within the ocean crust at temperatures of up to 320°C. Scientists describe it as a “cradle” of complex life that could hold the key to how life on Earth once started. Our own distant ancestors may have looked just like the microbes living on the geological structures in Loki’s Castle.

“By safeguarding these deep-sea ecosystems within a global network of ocean sanctuaries and establishing a moratorium on deep sea mining, we can create a resilient safety net for marine life, and protect the health of our global oceans for generations to come”, Dr. Sandra Schöttner added.

Greenpeace’s Deep Arctic Expedition brings together world-leading scientists to explore Arctic seamounts and hydrothermal vent fields – all while ‘divestreaming’ the science from the Arctic seabed on YouTube. [1] The area was opened for deep sea mining by the Norwegian government in 2024, but the plans were halted last year after protests from environmental organisations, fishermen, scientists and the green opposition parties in Norway.[2] 

Deep sea mining would, according to many scientists, cause irreversible damage to vulnerable deep-sea ecosystems, including the destruction of habitats, and possibly the extinction of some species.

Greenpeace is calling on world leaders to honour global climate targets, implement the UN Ocean Treaty to protect 30% of the global ocean by 2030, and establish an immediate moratorium on deep-sea mining.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Photos and videos of the protest are available here. 

A full selection of the photos, video and maps from Greenpeace’s Arctic Deep expedition are in the Greenpeace Media Library 

Join the Arctic expedition WhatsApp channel for updates and divestream notifications. Watch the divestreams on YouTube

Read more about the expedition here 

Notes:

[1] Greenpeace International, Greenpeace Germany and Greenpeace Nordic are leading the Deep Arctic Expedition from 8 May–5 June 2026.

[2] Deep-sea mining: Norway halts controversial practice until 2029 (Euronews) 

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