Deep-sea mining is the process of extracting and excavating to retrieve mineral deposits from the deep seabed where the ocean depths are greater than 200m. Humans are moving forward to the deep-sea mining industry as terrestrial deposits constantly decreasing. Moreover, the accelerating progress of new technologies is increasing the
demand for raw materials. It is anticipated to begin soon as the demands for the materials such as copper, cobalt, zinc, manganese, nickel and other valuable metals are increasing to produce technologies like wind turbines, electric vehicles, solar panels, and batteries. It is anticipated to begin soon for copper, cobalt, zinc, manganese, and other valuable metals as interest has grown substantially in the last decade. Most research assessing the impacts of mining has focused on the seafloor. Below, in Figure 1, it shows the framework of mineral extraction from seabed. As said earlier, due to needs of raw material increases, humans start to explore more the deep-sea in order to extract minerals. However, those activities will be given a negative and irriversible consequences towards the environment.
Figure 1. The framework of mineral extraction from seabed.
Figure 2. Examples of minerals retrieved from the seabed.
It is known that the areas likely to be affected by deep-sea mining would range from the surface and water column due to particles discharged (accidentally or otherwise) during lifting, at-sea processing, and transportation (Pearson 1975; Amos et al. 1977) to the seafloor where the mineral will be separated from the associated substrate either due to scooping or drilling, leading to resuspension and redistribution of debris in the bottom water along the path of the collector device as well as in the vicinity of the mining tracks.
To be emphasized, the whole process will affect negatively the ocean ecosystem as well as the biodiversity due to the deep midwaters of the world’s oceans representing more than 90% of the biosphere, which contains 100 times more fish than the annual global catch, connect surface and seafloor ecosystems, and also playing vital roles in climate regulation and nutrient cycles.
Currently, due to the lack of scientific knowledge, we cannot presently assure that
mining mineral resources in the area would not lead to irreversible damage to the seabed and
its biodiversity
Few examples of negative impacts undergoes by the deep-sea environment and its biodiversity are listed in the below section.
1. Water Pollution
Mining machines grind up and destroy the habitat of living organisms in the ocean and cause risking the extinction of unique species. The widespread of disruption to marine life would also impact the whole ocean food chain. Deep-sea mining will stir up fine sediments on the seafloor, creating plumes of suspended particles.
2. Destruction of Habitat
the minerals that are mixed with the seawater will be treated with different salinity and chemicals and the spills of fuel and toxic products that are harmful to the animals.
3. Vibration, Light, and Noise Pollution
Some of the sea mammals such as whales, dolphins, and sharks could be affected by noise, vibrations, and light pollution that are caused by mining equipment, and surface vessels. The lights from the machines will affect the feeding and reproductive behaviors of the deep-sea living organism. Those animals will suffer when they lose communication signals between their species.
4. Disturbance of the seafloor
The machines used during mining activities could scrap the seafloor and destroy the habitats
of deep-sea organisms, causing the loss of species and fragmentation or loss of ecosystem
structure and function.
In accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the ISA is required to ensure the effective protection of the marine environment, including deep midwater ecosystems, from harmful effects arising from mining-related activities.
“This is a call to all stakeholders and managers,” said Jeffrey Drazen, lead author of the article and professor of oceanography at UH Mānoa. “Mining is poised to move forward yet we lack scientific evidence to understand and manage the impacts on deep pelagic ecosystems, which constitute most of the biosphere. More research is needed very quickly.
Awareness of the deep sea environment and habitats is critical in providing the
marine environment with best practices for conservation and safety.
To conclude, it is essential to carry out scientific exploration and research missions to
increase our knowledge and understanding of these still very little-known marine
environments. It must not only continue, but also grow, especially in the context of
international collaboration among researchers worldwide. Mining activities in the zone, if they
are ever possible, will be the first human activities ever supervised before they begin, and they
will be supported by scientific knowledge, with environmental protection as a requirement, and
for the benefit of all humanity.
"There is no calamity greater than lavish desires. There is no greater guilt than discontentment. And there is no greater disaster than greed."- Lao Tzu
