Ecological risk assessment for deep-sea mining

Washburn, Travis W.; Turner, Phillip J.; Durden, Jennifer M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6529-9109; Jones, Daniel O.B. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5218-1649; Weaver, Philip; Van Dover, Cindy L.. 2019 Ecological risk assessment for deep-sea mining. Ocean & Coastal Management, 176. 24-39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2019.04.014

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2019.04.014

Abstract/Summary

Ecological risk assessment for deep-sea mining is challenging, given the data-poor state of knowledge of deep-sea ecosystem structure, process, and vulnerability. Polling and a scale-intensity-consequence approach (SICA) were used in an expert elicitation survey to rank risk sources and perceived vulnerabilities of habitats associated with seabed nodule, sulfide, and crust mineral resources. Experts identified benthic habitats associated with seabed minerals as most vulnerable to habitat removal with a high degree of certainty. Resource-associated benthic and pelagic habitats were also perceived to be at risk from plumes generated during mining activities, although there was not always consensus regarding vulnerabilities to specific risk sources from different types of plumes. Even for risk sources where habitat vulnerability measures were low, high uncertainties suggest that these risks may not yet be dismissed. Survey outcomes also underscore the need for risk assessment to progress from expert opinion with low certainty to data-rich and ecosystem-relevant scientific research assessments to yield much higher certainty. This would allow for design and deployment of effective precautionary and mitigation efforts in advance of commercial exploitation, and adaptive management strategies would allow for regulatory and guideline modifications in response to new knowledge and greater certainty.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2019.04.014
ISSN:	09645691
Date made live:	28 Jun 2019 10:44 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/524070

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2019.04.014

ISSN:

09645691

Date made live:

28 Jun 2019 10:44 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/524070