Should we mine the deep seafloor?

As land-based mineral resources become increasingly difficult and expensive to acquire, the potential for mining resources from the deep seafloor has become widely discussed and debated. Exploration leases are being granted, and technologies are under development. However, the quantity and quality of the resources are uncertain, and many worry about risks to vulnerable deep-sea ecosystems. Deep-sea mining has become part of the discussion of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In this article we provide a summary of benefits, costs, and uncertainties that surround this potentially attractive but contentious topic

Common heritage of mankind: when science challenges legal concepts

By demonstrating the role of marine organisms in the formation and composition of deep-sea mineral resources, the aim of this poster is to demonstrate that legal definitions can sometimes be relatively simplistic and limited. Considering that on the deep seafloor, the meaning of legal terms can determine the applicable legal regime, this study represents an important aspect of academic legal research. The overall goal is to introduce the interpretation methodology that will be used in the author’s PhD research project on the legal framework of deep-sea mining

Who gains from deep-sea mining?

The issue at stake at the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea was a new international distribution of ocean wealth along the lines of the so-called New International Economic Order. The best example of interventionism on the international mineral markets is the Convention's regime to govern seabed mining. This paper presents empirical estimates in an attempt to identify net winners and net losers resulting from ocean mining both under the Convention and under open access, and to contrast these outcomes with widely held beliefs concerning the distributional impact of seabed mining. Furthermore, it discusses the desirability and feasibility of loser compensation by the Seabed Authority

Asian Pacific Marine Minerals and Industry Structure

Eventual development of marine minerals potential in the Asian Pacific would likely draw on the technology, skills, and experience of the emerging international seabed mining industry. As a result of strategic behavior by its firms, this small-numbers industrial "strategic group" has created a level of capacity for seabed mining exploration and research and development (R&D) that far exceeds the near-term level of activity expected in seabed mining. The paper reports on the nature of preproduction industrial structure (or "protostructure") in seabed mining and draws implications for efforts to develop the resource potential of Asian Pacific marine minerals. Seabed minerals exploration and R&D services might be offered to Asian Pacific nations at bargain prices (below unit cost) by firms with first-starter advantages in the emerging industry. However, cautionary notes are included about constraints on the economic potential of the region's deep-sea minerals such as manganese nodules, polymetallie sulfides, and cobalt crusts.Environmental Economics and Policy, International Relations/Trade, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Environmental hazard assessment of a marine mine tailings deposit site and potential implications for deep-sea mining

Portmán Bay is a heavily contaminated area resulting from decades of metal mine tailings disposal, and is considered a suitable shallow-water analogue to investigate the potential ecotoxicological impact of deep-sea mining. Resuspension plumes were artificially created by removing the top layer of the mine tailings deposit by bottom trawling. Mussels were deployed at three sites: i) off the mine tailings deposit area; ii) on the mine tailings deposit beyond the influence from the resuspension plumes; iii) under the influence of the artificially generated resuspension plumes. Surface sediment samples were collected at the same sites for metal analysis and ecotoxicity assessment. Metal concentrations and a battery of biomarkers (oxidative stress, metal exposure, biotransformation and oxidative damage) were measured in different mussel tissues. The environmental hazard posed by the resuspension plumes was investigated by a quantitative weight of evidence (WOE) model that integrated all the data. The resuspension of sediments loaded with metal mine tails demonstrated that chemical contaminants were released by trawling subsequently inducing ecotoxicological impact in mussels' health. Considering as sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) those indicated in Spanish action level B for the disposal of dredged material at sea, the WOE model indicates that the hazard is slight off the mine tailings deposit, moderate on the mine tailings deposit without the influence from the resuspension plumes, and major under the influence of the resuspension plumes. Portmán Bay mine tailings deposit is a by-product of sulphide mining, and despite differences in environmental setting, it can reflect the potential ecotoxic effects to marine fauna from the impact of resuspension of plumes created by deep-sea mining of polymetallic sulphides. A similar approach as in this study could be applied in other areas affected by sediment resuspension and for testing future deep-sea mining sites in order to assess the associated environmental hazards.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Biological responses to disturbance from simulated deep-sea polymetallic nodule mining

Commercial-scale mining for polymetallic nodules could have a major impact on the deep-sea environment, but the effects of these mining activities on deep-sea ecosystems are very poorly known. The first commercial test mining for polymetallic nodules was carried out in 1970. Since then a number of small-scale commercial test mining or scientific disturbance studies have been carried out. Here we evaluate changes in faunal densities and diversity of benthic communities measured in response to these 11 simulated or test nodule mining disturbances using meta-analysis techniques. We find that impacts are often severe immediately after mining, with major negative changes in density and diversity of most groups occurring. However, in some cases, the mobile fauna and small-sized fauna experienced less negative impacts over the longer term. At seven sites in the Pacific, multiple surveys assessed recovery in fauna over periods of up to 26 years. Almost all studies show some recovery in faunal density and diversity for meiofauna and mobile megafauna, often within one year. However, very few faunal groups return to baseline or control conditions after two decades. The effects of polymetallic nodule mining are likely to be long term. Our analyses show considerable negative biological effects of seafloor nodule mining, even at the small scale of test mining experiments, although there is variation in sensitivity amongst organisms of different sizes and functional groups, which have important implications for ecosystem responses. Unfortunately, many past studies have limitations that reduce their effectiveness in determining responses. We provide recommendations to improve future mining impact test studies. Further research to assess the effects of test-mining activities will inform ways to improve mining practices and guide effective environmental management of mining activities

The Current State of Global Activities Related to Deep-sea Mineral Exploration and Mining

Deep-sea mining is seen as a potential way to provide future secure metal supply to global markets. The current rush to the seafloor in areas beyond national jurisdiction indicates that sound knowledge of the geological characteritics of the various commodities, a realistic resource assessment, and a social and political discussion about the cons and pros of their exploitation that is based on facts, not myths, is required. This contribution provides the most recent information on global deep-sea mineral resources and sets the stage for detailed talks in this session