Long-term impact and biological recovery in a deep-sea mining track
Jones, Daniel O. B. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5218-1649; Arias, Maria Belen; Van Audenhaege, Loïc
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3973-029X; Blackbird, Sabena
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0942-6836; Boolukos, Corie; Bribiesca-Contreras, Guadalupe
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8163-8724; Copley, Jonathan T.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3333-4325; Dale, Andrew
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9256-7770; Evans, Susan
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1756-0568; Fleming, Bethany F. M.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6608-2841; Gates, Andrew R.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2798-5044; Grant, Hannah; Hartl, Mark G. J.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1208-2050; Huvenne, Veerle A. I.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7135-6360; Jeffreys, Rachel M.; Josso, Pierre; King, Lucas D.; Simon-Lledó, Erik
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9667-2917; Le Bas, Tim
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2545-782X; Norman, Louisa; O’Malley, Bryan; Peacock, Thomas
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7639-0194; Shimmield, Tracy; Stewart, Eva C. D.; Sweetman, Andrew K.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9547-9493; Wardell, Catherine
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5069-7905; Aleynik, Dmitry
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2066-1960; Glover, Adrian G.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9489-074X.
2025
Long-term impact and biological recovery in a deep-sea mining track.
Nature.
10.1038/s41586-025-08921-3
Abstract/Summary
Deep-sea polymetallic nodule mining is currently in the exploration phase with some groups proposing a move towards extraction within years1. Management of this industry requires evidence of the long-term effects on deep-sea ecosystems2, but the ability of seafloor ecosystems to recover from impacts over decadal scales is poorly understood3. Here we show that, four decades after a test mining experiment that removed nodules, the biological impacts in many groups of organisms are persistent, although populations of several organisms, including sediment macrofauna, mobile deposit feeders and even large-sized sessile fauna, have begun to re-establish despite persistent physical changes at the seafloor. We also reveal that areas affected by plumes from this small-scale test have limited detectable residual sedimentation impacts with some biological assemblages similar in abundance compared to control areas after 44 years. Although some aspects of the modern collector design may cause reduced physical impact compared to this test mining experiment, our results show that mining impacts in the abyssal ocean will be persistent over at least decadal timeframes and communities will remain altered in directly disturbed areas, despite some recolonisation. The long-term effects seen in our study provide critical data for effective management of mining activities, if they occur, including minimising direct impacts and setting aside an effective network of protected areas4,5.
Item Type: | Publication - Article |
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Digital Object Identifier (DOI): | 10.1038/s41586-025-08921-3 |
ISSN: | 0028-0836 |
Date made live: | 27 Mar 2025 19:27 +0 (UTC) |
URI: | https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/539171 |
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