Deep Sea Mining

Deep Sea Mining is a growing industrial field that involves extracting submerged minerals and deposits from the sea floor. There are interests both for and against seabed mining, however, the science around the environmental impact of deep sea mining is incomplete and unproven. Read here to learn more about Deep Sea mining.

There is a new interest in exploring Deep Sea Mining, which requires intensive, destructive processes to retrieve deposits laid down over thousands of years around underwater hot springs or hydrothermal vents in the ocean.

Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Area and its mineral resources are the common heritage of humankind.

This means they must be managed on behalf of and in the interests of all humanity including through- the sharing of economic benefits; support for marine scientific research; and the effective protection of the marine environment.

Deep Sea Mining

Deep-sea mining is the process of retrieving mineral deposits from the deep seabed – the ocean below 200m.

Depleting terrestrial deposits and rising demand for metals mean deep-sea mining may begin soon, even though research suggests that it could destroy habitats and wipe out species.

Deep-sea mining should be halted until the criteria specified by IUCN are met, including the introduction of assessments, effective regulation, and mitigation strategies.

Comprehensive studies are needed to improve our understanding of deep-sea ecosystems and the vital services they provide to people, such as food and carbon sequestration.

The International Seabed Authority (ISA), which regulates activities in the seabed beyond national jurisdiction had issued 31 contracts to explore deep-sea mineral deposits.

More than 1.5 million km²of international seabeds, roughly the size of Mongolia, have been set aside for mineral exploration.

Mining in international waters could commence as soon as 2026; even though vital research and work to adopt the required regulations, standards, and guidelines to manage deep-sea mining sustainably is far from complete.

Significance

There is growing interest in the mineral deposits of the seabed. This is said to be due to depleting terrestrial deposits of metals such as copper, nickel, aluminum, manganese, zinc, lithium, and cobalt.

Demand for these metals is also increasing to produce technologies like smartphones, wind turbines, solar panels, and batteries.

Deep-sea mining is a potential source of critical and other minerals that may enable new technologies, such as extended-range electric cars, lighter rechargeable batteries, and more weather-resistant wind turbines.

What are polymetallic nodules?

Polymetallic nodules were discovered at the end of the 19th century in the Kara Sea, in the Arctic Ocean off Siberia (1868). During the scientific expeditions of the H.M.S. Challenger (1872–76), they were found to occur in most oceans of the world.

Polymetallic nodules, also called manganese nodules, are rock concretions formed of concentric layers of iron and manganese hydroxides around a core. The core may be microscopically small and is sometimes completely transformed into manganese minerals by crystallization.

Concerns related to Deep Sea Mining

Research suggests deep-sea mining could severely harm marine biodiversity and ecosystems, but we still lack the knowledge and means to implement protections.

As the deep sea remains understudied and poorly understood, there are many gaps in our understanding of its biodiversity and ecosystems.

• This makes it difficult to assess the potential impacts of deep-sea mining or to put in place adequate safeguards to protect the marine environment, and the three billion people whose livelihoods depend on marine and coastal biodiversity.

Disturbance of the seafloor

The digging and gauging of the ocean floor by machines can alter or destroy deep-sea habitats.

• This leads to the loss of species, many of which are found nowhere else, and the fragmentation or loss of ecosystem structure and function.
• It is the most direct impact of deep-sea mining and the damage caused is most likely permanent.

Sediment plumes

Deep-sea mining will stir up fine sediments on the seafloor, creating plumes of suspended particles.

• This is exacerbated by mining ships discharging wastewater at the surface.
• Scientists are concerned these particles may disperse for hundreds of kilometers, take a long time to resettle on the seafloor, and affect ecosystems and commercially important or vulnerable species.
• For instance, such plumes could smother animals, harm filter-feeding species, and block animals’ visual communication.

Pollution

• Species such as whales, tuna, and sharks could be affected by noise, vibrations, and light pollution caused by mining equipment and surface vessels, as well as potential leaks and spills of fuel and toxic products.

Indian initiatives

• Recently a national science award was presented to Indian scientists who conducted the world’s first locomotive trials of a deep-sea mining system in the central Indian ocean.
• Deep Ocean Mission was initiated to develop technologies required for exploring and extracting minerals from the deep seabed.
• Promotion of blue economy through various projects and initiatives.

In news

An unknown process is producing oxygen deep in the world’s oceans, where it is too dark for photosynthesis, scientists reported on July 22 in the journal Nature Geoscience.

• The finding has important implications because oxygen helps support life and the discovery implies the existence of previously unknown ecosystems.
• Many governments are also bound to take notice since one explanation for the oxygen is that polymetallic nodules are transporting electric charges that split water molecules around them, releasing oxygen.
• Polymetallic nodules are lumps of iron, manganese hydroxides, and rock partially submerged in many parts of the ocean floor.
• If their concentration exceeds 10 kg per sq. m, mining them is considered to be economically feasible — and many countries are planning to do so as a new resource.

Way forward

At the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Marseille (September 2021), IUCN Members adopted Resolution 122 to protect deep-ocean ecosystems and biodiversity through a moratorium on deep-sea mining unless and until several conditions are met. These include:

• The risks of mining are comprehensively understood and effective protection can be ensured;
• Rigorous and transparent impact assessments are conducted based on comprehensive baseline studies;
• The Precautionary Principle and the ‘Polluter Pays Principle are implemented;
• Policies incorporating circular economic principles to reuse and recycle minerals have been developed and implemented;
• The public is consulted throughout decision-making;
• The governance of deep-sea mining is transparent, accountable, inclusive, effective, and environmentally responsible.

Reliance on metals from mining can be reduced by redesigning, reusing, and recycling.

In addition, research should focus on creating more sustainable alternatives to their use because deep-sea mining could irreparably harm marine ecosystems, and limit the many benefits the deep sea provides to humanity.

Read: Offshore areas minerals

-Article written by Swathi Satish