During a research mission in the Arctic, the environmental organization Greenpeace used an underwater robot to carry out the deepest protest action in history. The ROV Holly deployed a banner reading "Listen to the science!" at a depth of 2315 meters at the Loki's Castle hydrothermal field on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This is reported by Ixbt.com .
Expedition members stated that the robot operated in a complex geological area near "black smokers," where mineral-rich flows heated up to 320 °C emerge from cracks in the ocean crust. These structures form unique ecosystems where sunlight does not reach but life thrives, and they are considered analogs of the ancient Earth.
Scientific lead of the expedition Sandra Schöttner called this action an attempt to draw attention to scientific data regarding the fragility of deep-sea ecosystems. According to her, although nations have set a goal to protect 30 percent of the ocean, practical measures, including limiting industrial exploitation, are not being implemented consistently enough.
Environmentalists warn that the expansion of deep-sea mining could lead to the extinction of unstudied species and irreversible ecological disaster. The Loki's Castle area is home to microorganisms adapted to extreme conditions, which are key to understanding the evolution of life.
Greenpeace is calling for a moratorium on deep-sea mining and the creation of a network of ocean sanctuaries. The organization emphasizes that only systematic protection measures can maintain the stability of marine ecosystems under the pressures of climate change and industrial activity.
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