For now, no dredgers will drill into the Arctic seabed. On 3 December 2025, the Norwegian government decided that it will not grant new licenses for deep-sea mining in its territorial waters until at least the end of the current legislature, set for 2029.
The decision marks a setback for a project launched just a year ago, when Norway became the first nation in the world to give the green light to mining mineral nodules from the Arctic seabed — areas as large as 280,000 square kilometers, potentially rich in minerals such as cobalt, zinc and rare earths, crucial for batteries, green energy and technology.
From a quick yes to a strategic referral
In early 2024, the Norwegian government passed legislation authorizing the opening of a large portion of the continental shelf to underwater mining. The idea was to start exploration as early as 2025 and then grant definitive exploitation licenses within a few years.
But between the summer and autumn of 2025 the political situation changed. The minority party Socialist Left Party (SV), together with the Green Party, the Red Party and the Center Party, has made the suspension of the opening of licenses a condition for supporting the state budget. The Labor Party (Labour)-led government agreed.
Reactions from those who defend the oceans
The reaction from environmentalist associations was immediate and strong. For Greenpeace Nordic, the decision is “a historic victory”.
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WWF-Norway also hailed the suspension as a “massive triumph for nature” and a “historic victory for science and public pressure.”
The organizations draw attention to the uncertainty that still surrounds the impacts on the marine ecosystem and the life that populates it: seabeds that are still almost completely unexplored, possible carbon emissions, suspended sediments that could suffocate fauna and flora, and communities of organisms that are not present elsewhere
A step that can change the global scenario
Norway’s suspension of mining is not just a local matter: the decision comes at a time when global support for ocean protection is growing. In 2024, a petition signed by dozens of countries and over 900 scientists called for a global moratorium on deep-sea mining.
Furthermore, already in 2024 the European Parliament had expressed concern about the concessions planned by Norway, asking for a moratorium at least until the environmental effects had been assessed more rigorously.
Oslo’s move could therefore set a precedent, a strong signal for other governments – and for the market – who are considering focusing on the ocean floor as a new mining frontier.
Not a definitive closure
However, it should be clarified that this is not a permanent ban. The government describes the decision as a temporary postponement, motivated by political reasons related to the 2026 budget, not as a definitive paradigm shift.
Some companies active in the sector, such as Adepth Minerals, have already announced that they will keep an eye on the evolution of the situation, convinced that sooner or later deep sea mining will resume.
What is certain is that this “pause” offers time – and hope – to deepen the state of knowledge: accurate scientific evaluations, mapping, and serious reflection on environmental costs and benefits. But also for a question that is starting to emerge: does the green transition really need to dig into the ocean depths to proceed?
