#DefendOurMoana

Say NO to Deep Sea Mining

The Southern California Pacific Islander Community Response Team (SoCal PICRT), in collaboration with a growing coalition of Pasifika (Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander) individuals and community-based organizations across California, has launched Defend Our Moana: Say NO To Deep Sea Mining, a grassroots campaign mobilizing collective opposition to deep sea mining plans proposed off the coast of American Samoa.

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About #DefendOurMoana

We are responding to a recent notice from the United States Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), announcing a 30-day Request for Information and Interest (RFI) period for potential commercial leasing of the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf for deep seabed mining—with a looming public comment deadline of August 15, 2025. This action follows the current administration’s April 2025 “Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals” Executive Order, which called on federal agencies to expedite exploration and extraction of critical minerals from U.S. waters.

What You Can Do

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Submit a Public Comment

Use our tool kit to write a public comment and submit by the August 15 deadline.

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Sign the Open Letter

In lieu of writing your own comment, read our open letter and sign on.

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Share Your Story

Why does defending the moana matter to you?

We demand a moratorium on deep sea mining

Stand with us in demanding a moratorium on deep sea mining

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