Hydrothermal vent ecosystems combine a fragile habitat, sensitive species, and an imminent threat of commercial mining. This is true for the Scaly-foot Snail, shown here, but also all others of more than 12 known species of molluscs that are endemic to Indian Ocean vents. We aim to bring together the relevant science and rapidly produce high-quality assessments that will support an appropriate Red List designation for these species to enable appropriate international protection. International waters are officially a common heritage of all humankind. The general public is still under-informed about the immediacy and potential impacts of deep-sea mining. The IUCN Red List, on the other hand, is widely known and respected. Our first target species, the Scaly-foot Snail, has attracted significant media attention and its inclusion in the Red List would help communicate the potential threats to deep-sea habitats.