Over 600 marine science & policy experts call for a halt to deep seabed mining activities
Discussion time on coastal and marine issues was completely inadequate, as is para 9 of the resulting L12 document: “Encouraging parties ... to minimize and mitigate impacts of deep-sea mining on coastal and marine biodiversity.”
This phrase allows seabed mining to move ahead, in conflict with the precautionary principle and the current scientific understanding of the inevitable impacts. It suggests a desire to prioritise gain of resources over protecting vital systems.
The deep ocean constitutes more than 90% of the biosphere, and plays a key role in climate regulation, fisheries production, and elemental cycling.
Serious concerns include:
Production of large, persistent, sediment plumes: affecting seafloor and midwater species and ecosystems well beyond the actual mining sites;
Resuspension, release and spread of sediment, metals and toxins into the water column, both from mining and the discharge of mining wastewater from ships noise pollution.
There is a lack of rigorous scientific information available concerning the biology, ecology and connectivity of deep-sea species and ecosystems, as well as the ecosystem functions they provide. Deep-sea mining would add to existing stressors, resulting in the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, irreversible on multi-generational timescales.
Until and unless it is possible to rule out any significant damage, deep seabed mining must not be an option.
Read the expert statement here: https://www.seabedminingsciencestatement.org/
By Dr. Ricarda Steinbrecher, Federation of German Scientists