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Stop Deep-Sea Mining
http://countercurrents.org/2021/07/stop-deep-sea-mining/Date Written: 2021-08-23 Publisher: Counter Currents Year Published: 2021 Resource Type: Article Cx Number: CX24728 Advocates for the end of exploitation of mineral resources through deep-sea mining until sufficent scientific information has been obtained on if deep-sea mining can be done without damage to the marine environment. Abstract: - Excerpt: The deep sea is home to a significant proportion of Earth’s biodiversity, with most species yet to be discovered. The richness and diversity of organisms in the deep sea supports ecosystem processes necessary for the Earth’s natural systems to function. The deep ocean also constitutes more than 90% of the biosphere, and plays a key role in climate regulation, fisheries production, and elemental cycling. It is an integral part of the culture and well-being of local communities and the seafloor forms part of the common heritage of humankind. However, deep-sea ecosystems are currently under stress from a number of anthropogenic stressors including climate change, bottom trawling and pollution. Deep-sea mining would add to these stressors, resulting in the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning that would be irreversible on multi-generational timescales. Amongst the specific concerns over the impacts of deep-sea mining are: the direct loss of unique and ecologically important species and populations as a result of the degradation, destruction or elimination of seafloor habitat, many before they have been discovered and understood; the production of large, persistent sediment plumes that would affect seafloor and midwater species and ecosystems well beyond the actual mining sites; the interruption of important ecological processes connecting midwater and benthic ecosystems; the resuspension and release of sediment, metals and toxins into the water column, both from mining the seafloor and the discharge of mining wastewater from ships, detrimental to marine life including the potential for contamination of commercially important species of food fish such as tunas; noise pollution arising from industrial machine activity on the ocean floor and the transport of ore slurries in pipes to the sea surface, that could cause physiological and behavioral stress to marine mammals and other marine species; uncertain impacts on carbon sequestration dynamics and deep-ocean carbon storage. Subject Headings |