Assessment of scientific gaps related to the effective environmental management of deep-seabed mining

Amon, Diva J.; Gollner, Sabine; Morato, Telmo; Smith, Craig R.; Chen, Chong; Christiansen, Sabine; Currie, Bronwen; Drazen, Jeffrey C.; Fukushima, Tomohiko; Gianni, Matthew; Gjerde, Kristina M.; Gooday, Andrew ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5661-7371; Grillo, Georgina Guillen; Haeckel, Matthias; Joyini, Thembile; Ju, Se-Jong; Levin, Lisa A.; Metaxas, Anna; Mianowicz, Kamila; Molodtsova, Tina N.; Narberhaus, Ingo; Orcutt, Beth N.; Swaddling, Alison; Tuhumwire, Joshua; Palacio, Patricio Urueña; Walker, Michelle; Weaver, Phil; Xu, Xue-Wei; Mulalap, Clement Yow; Edwards, Peter E.T.; Pickens, Chris. 2022 Assessment of scientific gaps related to the effective environmental management of deep-seabed mining. Marine Policy, 138. 105006. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2022.105006

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2022.105006

Abstract/Summary

A comprehensive understanding of the deep-sea environment and mining’s likely impacts is necessary to assess whether and under what conditions deep-seabed mining operations comply with the International Seabed Authority’s obligations to prevent ‘serious harm’ and ensure the ‘effective protection of the marine environment from harmful effects’ in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. A synthesis of the peer-reviewed literature and consultations with deep-seabed mining stakeholders revealed that, despite an increase in deep-sea research, there are few categories of publicly available scientific knowledge comprehensive enough to enable evidence-based decision-making regarding environmental management, including whether to proceed with mining in regions where exploration contracts have been granted by the International Seabed Authority. Further information on deep-sea environmental baselines and mining impacts is critical for this emerging industry. Closing the scientific gaps related to deep-seabed mining is a monumental task that is essential to fulfilling the overarching obligation to prevent serious harm and ensure effective protection, and will require clear direction, substantial resources, and robust coordination and collaboration. Based on the information gathered, we propose a potential high-level road map of activities that could stimulate a much-needed discussion on the steps that should be taken to close key scientific gaps before any exploitation is considered. These steps include the definition of environmental goals and objectives, the establishment of an international research agenda to generate new deep-sea environmental, biological, and ecological information, and the synthesis of data that already exist.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2022.105006
Programmes:	NOC Programmes > Ocean Biogeochemistry and Ecosystems
ISSN:	0308597X
Date made live:	08 Apr 2022 08:54 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/532445

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2022.105006

Programmes:

NOC Programmes > Ocean Biogeochemistry and Ecosystems

ISSN:

0308597X

Date made live:

08 Apr 2022 08:54 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/532445