Marine scientists warn regulations on ocean mining could be ‘pushed through’ despite ecological risks - iNews

Scientists are warning a rushed effort to open the deep sea to mining companies could be catastrophic for marine life.

Nations will gather in Jamaica from tomorrow to discuss whether rules governing deep sea mining could be rapidly drawn up in time for mining operations to start as soon as July 2023.

Mining companies are eager to start exploring the depths of the ocean floor which are rich in mineral deposits of materials such as cobalt, copper, manganese, and nickel.

These raw materials will be needed in large quantities to build solar panels, electric cars, and other technologies needed for the low-carbon transition, they argue.

Miners say they will only remove the top five centimetres of seabed sediment to collect mineral-rich ‘nodules’. They argue mining in the deep sea causes less environmental damage than land-based mining.

But scientists warn much more research is needed to better understand deep sea ecosystems – many still virtually untouched by human activity – before mining activities can even be considered.

“This part of the planet that is the closest thing to pristine that we have left,” marine biologist Dr Diva Amon told i. She stressed the ocean floor is a rich ocean habitat.

“There is a danger that we could be rushing forward into this part of the planet that we know so little about,” she said. “We just don’t have the answers to make a decision about whether this will be catastrophically impactful”.

The two-year deadline to finish regulations by July 2023...

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