LONDON: The number of sea-floor animals fell by 37 per cent in a deep-sea mining exploration zone, according to a study published on Friday probing the emerging industry´s impact on biodiversity.
The five-year research is believed to be the most extensive yet on the possible consequences of modern commercial deep-sea mining machines on oceans already threatened by pollution and overfishing.
The industry plumbs previously untouched seabeds for commodities including nickel, cobalt and copper, which are used in everything from rechargeable batteries to military technology.
Deep-sea habitats also play a crucial role in the climate system.
Scientists from the UK´s Natural History Museum (NHM), National Oceanography Centre, and Sweden´s University of Gothenburg took baseline data on wildlife in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) -- an area of the Pacific Ocean that has been targeted for mining.
They found a 37-per cent reduction in the number of tiny invertebrates such as worms and shellfish living within the sediment directly affected by the tracks of a mining machine.
NHM scientist Adrian Glover, the report´s senior author, said the findings could inform policy discussions on deep-sea mining and help “set a new standard for environmental work in the region, regulated by the International Seabed Authority”. Nations are currently jousting through the authority over proposed rules on the industry.
