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4w ago

Deep-Sea Mining Debate Intensifies as Long-Term Ecological Damage Revealed

New research highlights decades-long seabed damage from past mining, fueling calls for a moratorium during ongoing ISA talks.

A view shows a cross-section of a manganese crust at the bottom of the Norwegian Sea, in this undated handout picture. University of Bergen, Centre for Deep Sea Research/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo
Potato-sized mineral nodules at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, which form over millions of years, are once again a target for deep-sea mining companies
Scientists in Britain assessed the lasting impact of one of the oldest known mining tracks in the vast Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), stretching between Hawaii and Mexico

Overview

  • A study published in Nature reveals that seabed scars from a 1979 mining test in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone remain visible, with some areas showing little or no recovery after over 40 years.
  • Scientists found that while smaller, mobile marine creatures have begun to recover, larger, fixed animals remain scarce, and full ecosystem recovery may be impossible due to the removal of polymetallic nodules.
  • Delegates from 36 countries are meeting in Kingston, Jamaica, to finalize a mining code under the International Seabed Authority, but no consensus has been reached yet.
  • Environmental groups and some governments are urging a moratorium on deep-sea mining, citing the new evidence of long-term ecological damage and risks to marine biodiversity.
  • The Metals Company plans to submit the first formal mining application in June 2025, despite the lack of finalized regulations, increasing pressure on ISA deliberations.