Ship-to-shore training for active deep-sea capacity development

Sailing on scientific expeditions as an early career researcher (ECR) offers the beneficial opportunity to gain field experience and training. However, the number of available berths to achieve the scientific goals of an expedition limits the number of onboard participants. Telepresence and remote learning can be utilized to increase the number of active participants, broadening the reach of capacity development. The 2021 iMirabilis2 expedition on board the Spanish Research Vessel Sarmiento de Gamboa used telepresence to virtually involve ECRs from several countries in deep-sea science. One year post-expedition, a survey of onshore participants was conducted to assess and quantify the effectiveness of the peer-to-peer ECR ship-to-shore scheme. During the expedition, live, interactive training via WhatsApp and Zoom was utilized by onshore ECRs more than traditional static, unidirectional methods of blog posts and pre-recorded videos. All respondents either agreed or strongly agreed that the scheme provided an inclusive and accessible platform to share deep-sea science. These results suggest similar schemes could be used to supplement shorter-duration at-sea-training, used prior to a seagoing experience to better prepare ECRs, or to allow members of the science community unable to join an expedition in person to actively participate remotely, increasing inclusivity

Identifying toxic impacts of metals potentially released during deep-sea mining - a synthesis of the challenges to quantifying risk

In January 2017, the International Seabed Authority released a discussion paper on the development of Environmental Regulations for deep-sea mining (DSM) within the Area Beyond National Jurisdiction (the "Area"). With the release of this paper, the prospect for commercial mining in the Area within the next decade has become very real. Moreover, within nations' Exclusive Economic Zones, the exploitation of deep-sea mineral ore resources could take place on very much shorter time scales and, indeed, may have already started. However, potentially toxic metal mixtures may be released at sea during different stages of the mining process and in different physical phases (dissolved or particulate). As toxicants, metals can disrupt organism physiology and performance, and therefore may impact whole populations, leading to ecosystem scale effects. A challenge to the prediction of toxicity is that deep-sea ore deposits include complex mixtures of minerals, including potentially toxic metals such as copper, cadmium, zinc, and lead, as well as rare earth elements. Whereas the individual toxicity of some of these dissolved metals has been established in laboratory studies, the complex and variable mineral composition of seabed resources makes the a priori prediction of the toxic risk of DSM extremely challenging. Furthermore, although extensive data quantify the toxicity of metals in solution in shallow-water organisms, these may not be representative of the toxicity in deep-sea organisms, which may differ biochemically and physiologically and which will experience those toxicants under conditions of low temperature, high hydrostatic pressure, and potentially altered pH. In this synthesis, we present a summation of recent advances in our understanding of the potential toxic impacts of metal exposure to deep-sea meio- to megafauna at low temperature and high pressure, and consider the limitation of deriving lethal limits based on the paradigm of exposure to single metals in solution. We consider the potential for long-term and far-field impacts to key benthic invertebrates, including the very real prospect of sub-lethal impacts and behavioral perturbation of exposed species. In conclusion, we advocate the adoption of an existing practical framework for characterizing bulk resource toxicity in advance of exploitation

A blueprint for integrating scientific approaches and international communities to assess basin-wide ocean ecosystem status

Ocean ecosystems are at the forefront of the climate and biodiversity crises, yet we lack a unified approach to assess their state and inform sustainable policies. This blueprint is designed around research capabilities and cross-sectoral partnerships. We highlight priorities including integrating basin-scale observation, modelling and genomic approaches to understand Atlantic oceanography and ecosystem connectivity; improving ecosystem mapping; identifying potential tipping points in deep and open ocean ecosystems; understanding compound impacts of multiple stressors including warming, acidification and deoxygenation; enhancing spatial and temporal management and protection. We argue that these goals are best achieved through partnerships with policy-makers and community stakeholders, and promoting research groups from the South Atlantic through investment and engagement. Given the high costs of such research (€800k to €1.7M per expedition and €30–40M for a basin-scale programme), international cooperation and funding are integral to supporting science-led policies to conserve ocean ecosystems that transcend jurisdictional borders

Message in a bottle

(Children's book on deep-sea litter ) - published in 8 language

A role for UNEP's Regional Seas Programme under the post-2020 global biodiversity framework

A case is put forward to make best use of UNEP's Regional Seas Programme (RSP) for the Convention on Biological Diversity's (CBD) post-2020 global biodiversity framework (GBF). A review of the work of the RSP's component Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans (RSCAPs) highlights their potential for strengthening the marine and regional outlook of the GBF, as well as their current limitations. Recommendations are made to the CBD, the UNEP-RSP, its RSCAPs and to their member Parties/States to foster and further develop their mutually reinforcing roles in supporting a regional marine biodiversity dimension

HERMES: promoting ecosystem-based management and the sustainable use and governance of deep-water resources

HERMES is much more than a scientific research project. The overall goal of the project is to improve the scientific basis for the sustainable use of Europe's offshore resources with due regard for the need to conserve vulnerable deep-sea ecosystems. This objective is being achieved through the development of a number of tools and approaches specifically aimed at providing information that can be used directly by resource managers and policymakers. To address issues pertinent to sustainable management in the deep sea, HERMES brought together people from the natural and social sciences to ensure that coherent and realistic policy support is forthcoming. Given the sense of urgency arising from evidence of damage to vulnerable ecosystems in the deep sea, HERMES has placed a high priority on linking with stakeholders and on the timely delivery of appropriate policy advice as relevant new science becomes available. Here, we review some HERMES initiatives that support implementation of a more holistic ecosystem approach to the management of offshore resources and conservation of vulnerable marine ecosystems

EUROpean Deep Ocean Margins (EuroDOM): a new Training-Through-Research frontier

A critical component of ongoing ocean margin research in Europe is the involvement of young researchers, many of whom will eventually build careers in this field. As part of the European Commission's various Framework Programmes, a number of schemes provide opportunities and funding for young researchers to contribute to European ocean margin research. Within the current Framework Five (FP5) Programme (1998-2002, but ongoing until 2006), the Improving Human Research Potential and the Socio-Economic Base Programme (also commonly known as the Human Potential Programme) was initiated to support training and mobility of researchers from virtually all scientific fields throughout Europe. Under this Human Potential Programme, opportunities for young researchers are channelled through two schemes: (1) the Marie Curie Fellowships, which are awarded to outstanding individual pre- and post-doctoral researchers; and (2) Marie Curie Research Training Networks (RTNs), which involve teams of researchers