Scientists are concerned about the serious consequences of deep-sea mining for life on the ocean floor.
The extraction of metals from deep-sea floors could be highly detrimental to animals living in the deepest ocean layer. Clouds of metal particles released during deep-sea mining have significant impacts on sponges and other species, according to new research by scientists.
Little is known about the consequences of deep-sea mining because metals are not currently extracted from deep-sea floors anywhere in the world. However, Norway has recently legalized this form of mining. The country is taking steps to explore kilometers deep in search of metals needed for the energy transition.
To gain an initial understanding of the effects, scientists in a laboratory studied deep-sea sponges and brittle stars, a starfish-like species that coexists with the sponges. They exposed the marine animals to clouds of small particles that would likely also be released when companies search for valuable metals in so-called sulfide deposits.
These deposits contain zinc and copper. However, to extract the metals, the rock fragments must be crushed, releasing dust that can travel kilometers through the ocean.
After being exposed to these ‘mining plumes’ for three weeks in the laboratory, much of the tissue of the sponges died off. The brittle stars all died within ten days, presumably due to metal poisoning, the scientists report in the journal Deep Sea Research Part I.
Sponge without exposure to mining plumes (left) and after exposure (right).
Photo: WUR
The results are not very surprising. Copper is a well-known toxic substance. So, it’s not strange that animals die when exposed to it. It probably has consequences for many more animals.
According to researchers, the results demonstrate the need for more research into the effects of deep-sea mining on ocean ecosystems. “The deep sea is not a desert; there is a lot of life.”
Internationally, there are currently no regulations for deep-sea mining. By 2025, the International Seabed Authority must reach an agreement on this matter. These agreements only apply to international waters. In their own territorial seas, countries like Norway may establish their own rules.
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Daan van Dijken
Ten years ago, I started setting up a freshwater aquarium. Since then, I always have been fascinated by the underwater world. Together with my wife, we have been fortunate to discover this on many beautiful journeys and explored the magnificent underwater world through diving. In 2023, we have started a 60-liter saltwater aquarium. Soon, we realized that we wanted to further expand our saltwater aquarium hobby, so we switched to a Red Sea Peninsula 650. It's a fantastic aquarium that brings daily joy to me, my wife, and our daughter. I enjoy keeping up with the latest developments in the saltwater world and love exploring how to make my tank even smarter and easier to maintain. As a newcome, I would like to share all my experiences in setting up a saltwater aquarium with you!
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Stefan van Beek
Salt has always run in my blood. From birth, aquariums surrounded me, first at my grandfather's and later at my parents’ place. Now, at the age of 30, I've been able to set up my dream tank, a 160x70x70 peninsula. Corals hold the second spot for me; fish and the entire ecosystem are the reasons I have an aquarium. Nearly a decade ago, I started with my first aquarium, making plenty of mistakes and learning a great deal from them. Since 2021, I've been working at Ocean&Lake in the Netherlands, where I am now fully responsible for the saltwater department.