Study to investigate state of knowledge of deep sea mining preface 9 1 introduction 11 1. Study to investigate state of knowledge of deep sea mining. However, except for shallow water diamond mining off the coast of southern africa, no commercial deepsea mining operation has yet been started. Unlike asteroid mining, however, deep sea mining has already been undertaken through projects such as deep sea diamond mining. Deepsea mining is one of the most tightly regulated uses of the ocean. Depending on factors such as the type of impact for example, sediment plumes or noise, the type of mining and the ecosystem, biodiversity across a much wider area could be affected.
The deep sea mining dsm campaign is an association of ngos and citizens concerned about the impacts of dsm on marine and coastal ecosystems and communities. One research program thats now studying the possible ecotoxicological effects of seabed mining plumes is midas managing impacts of deepsea resource exploitation. Deep seabed mining is the extension of terrestrial and shallowwater mining activities in the deep ocean in the quest for minerals. The vents create globular or massive sulfide deposits, which contain valuable metals such as silver, gold, copper. The deep sea is a place of myth and mystery, filled with weird and wonderful life forms, and vital to the survival of our planet. The lwgs work, which will be published in a series of separate cigi papers in 2018, examines a range of substantive and procedural issues that will need to be addressed as part of the development of liability rules for deep seabed mining. Precautionary management of deep sea mining potential in. Now it seems that 2020 may actually be the year that commercial deep sea ocean mining starts in earnest. A new international study has demonstrated that deep sea nodule mining will cause longlasting damage to deep sea life. Making the most of deep seabed mineral resources in the area 4 a discussion paper on the development and implementation of a payment mechanism in the area all tns n qul nlu n tx, ountry should attract exploration investment proportional to its international geological attractiveness rating.
The deep ocean, the largest biome on earth at over 1 000 metres below the surface of the ocean, holds vast quantities of untapped energy resources, precious metals and minerals. Although no commercial scale deepsea mining has taken place, a range of mining. Depleting terrestrial deposits and rising demand for metals are stimulating interest in the deep sea, with commercial mining imminent. The worlds oceans are facing a new industrial frontier from a fledgling deepsea mining industry as companies line up to extract metals and minerals from some of the most important. Liability issues for deep seabed mining series paper no. Deep sea mining collector designs sensors for deep sea mining operations other broad areas of interest robust supply chains for clean energy technologies subsurface innovations digital transformation of energy industries lakshana. It requires new technologies and approaches and new scientific knowledge, most of which have yet to be acquired and developed. Deepsea mining is a collective term generally applied to the extraction of three distinct types of ore deposit found in the deep sea. Deep sea mining is the process of removing valuable materials such as metals and minerals from deposits located at the ocean floor or the floor of other large bodies of waters. Deepseabed mining dsm is an emerging marine industry that presents particularly complex challenges due to its multifaceted political, economic, technological, scientific, environmental, social, industrial and legal aspects, all of which must be addressed to achieve commercially viable results. It also identifies some of the considerations relating to mining activities in the area that pose specific challenges for addressing the definition and valuation of environmental damage.
Deep sea extraction technologies may soon develop to the point where exploration of seabed minerals can give way to active exploitation. It does not reflect the importance that states ascribe to deep sea mining in general. The writing is on the wall for solwara 1 png should withdraw its investment before its too late. However, except for shallow water diamond mining off the coast of southern africa, no commercial deep sea mining operation has yet been started. Deep sea minerals 2 deep sea minerals and the green. Deep down, way deep down, theres something stirring something very, very valuable. Frontiers an overview of seabed mining including the. The international forum for deep sea mining professionals. An assessment of the costs and benefits of mining deep. Given the isas fundamental protective responsibilities, and the uncertainty surrounding the effects of deepsea mining, the clinic calls for the immediate postponement of exploitation activities until.
Distribution characteristics and their resource potential. Is deep sea mining vital for a greener future even if it destroys ecosystems. The scraping of the sea floor and pollution from mining processes can wipe out entire species many yet to be discovered. Deep seabed mining of critical metals cecile pelaudeix 4 edito energie figure 1 only accounts for dsbm in the area.
Pdf sustainable processing of deepsea polymetallic nodules. Pdf environmental issues of deepsea mining researchgate. Pdf as terrestrial mineral deposits are either depleting or of low grade, minerals from the deepsea like the polymetallic nodules, cobalt rich crusts. Now it seems that 2020 may actually be the year that commercial deepsea ocean mining starts in earnest. If we are to make the most of these precious resources and protect the delicate and diverse ecosystems of the ocean floor, good governance and best practice for the deep sea mining industry must be set in place now a deep sea mining machine being built for mining company nautilus minerals at wallsend, england. An assessment of the costs and benefits of mining deepsea minerals in the pacific island region. Deep seabed mining treasure chest or another pandoras box. Secret deep sea mining data to reveal what lives in the abyss. Its a race to the bottom to the bottom of the oceans. But now, this mostly unknown world is facing largescale industrial exploitation as mining of the deep seabed for minerals fast becomes reality. The robot is ready so when will deep sea mining start. Is deep sea mining vital for a greener future the guardian. Managing a sustainable deepsea blue economy requires.
Discussion paper on the development and drafting of. By definition, deep sea minerals dsm occur in the deeperwater 400 6,000 meters where minerals are. Critical metals are used in low carbon energy technologies, as well as in the mobility, electronics and the defense industries. Deepsea mining is the process of retrieving mineral deposits from the deep sea the area of the ocean below 200 m which covers about 65% of the earths surface. Environmental issues associated with deepsea minerals exploitation. An assessment of the costs and benefits of mining deep sea. Over 10 million scientific documents at your fingertips. Deep sea mining, like asteroid mining, is a relatively unconventional method of extracting rare earth elements rees. As a result, deep sea mining is becoming increasingly possible. Noaa office of ocean exploration and research deep sea. The united states can mine the deep seabed without acceding to the united nations convention on the law of the sea unclos. Ocean mining sites are usually around large areas of polymetallic nodules or active and extinct hydrothermal vents at 1,400 to 3,700 metres 4,600 to 12,100 ft below the oceans surface. In the years since, there has been a great deal of research and exploration in this field.
Deep seabed mining commissioned by the german environment agency uba. Nov 27, 2018 deep sea mining is an example of a major industrial activity that has been severely constrained by a lack of basic scientific knowledge, even though the cost of obtaining this information would be small relative to the potential size of the industry. As we move into an era of mining the deepocean floor, the worlds most remote environment, mining companies are working on overcoming the perceived challenges and developing island nations are watching with interest. In fact, 250 of these deposits have been identified in deep sea areas worldwide 70. The mining project, known as the solwara 1 project, will extract gold and copper from the floor of the bismarck sea in papua new guinea. Comparison of land based and deep sea mining footprints per million tons of ore deep sea mining activity deep sea area required per million tons mined ore area required to produce same products on land nodule mining 80 km2 0. This fact sheet was updated on july 5, 2018, to reflect updated information on deep sea mining exploration claims and the timetable for developing international seabed authority seabed mining rules. Overview of technologies wiebe boomsma ihc mining b. Comprehensive baseline studies are needed to improve our understanding of the deep sea. Ecological safeguards for deep seabed mining umweltbundesamt. Deepsea mining is the extraction of valuable metals and minerals by stripping away wide swaths of the deep ocean floor using robotic cutting machines. Introduction part xi of the united nations convention on the law of the sea losc1, the 1994 implementing. Currently 26 permits have been issued for deepsea mining exploration, and one has been issued for the worlds first active. If we are to make the most of these precious resources and protect the delicate and diverse ecosystems of the ocean floor, good governance and best practice for the deep sea mining industry must be set in place now a deepsea mining machine being built for mining company nautilus minerals at wallsend, england.
It is the first of a potentially large number of deep sea mining projects within the wider pacific region. Deepsea mining faq center for biological diversity. This method of mining is relatively new as compared to mining on dry land, and the environmental impact is a concern among environmentalists and governments, as well as industries that rely on the oceans and. The future of deep seabed mining the maritime executive. There is growing interest in the mineral deposits of the deep sea.
Deep sea mining is a mineral retrieval process that takes place on the ocean floor. Deep sea mining below 200 m is considered in two types of areas. Deep sea minerals and the green economy 41 sustainable economic development and deep sea mining linwood pendleton1, anne solgaard 2, porter hoagland3, and paula holland 4 with additional contributions by nick hanley5 and nils jobstvogt6 1duke university. The fate of fantastical deep sea creatures that live in unearthly habitats targeted for industrial mining might rest on a trove of scientific data collected by. What has emerged is a proposed set of mining extraction operations that represent a very new type of industry, characterized as deep sea minerals mining dsmm by virtue of the great depths at which these minerals occur.
A new international study has demonstrated that deepsea nodule mining will cause longlasting damage to deepsea life. Miller ka, thompson kf, johnston p and santillo d 2018 an overview of seabed mining including the current state of development, environmental impacts, and knowledge gaps. Pdf deepsea minerals such as polymetallic nodule, hydrothermal sulphides, and ferromanganese crusts have for long attracted attention as. Nodules of up to 150 mm diameter form through precipitation from the surrounding seawater or sediment waters over millions of years. Deepsea mining is the process of retrieving mineral deposits from the deep sea the area of the ocean below 200 m. It was previously updated on april 3, 2017, to correct several data points regarding the status of seabed mining and the rules being developed. Interest in exploration and exploitation of deepsea minerals is seeing a revival due to diminishing grades and increasing costs of processing of terrestrial minerals as well as availability of several strategic metals in seabed mineral resources. In addition, the deep sea mining industry has heavily promoted the need for these rare earth minerals for ironically, green technology. These occur over large expanses of the abyssal plains at depths of 40006000 m. This paper has been published following the seminar deepsea mining. There are a number of leading companies that have gained a strong position and a good reputation in. The focus of deep sea mining dsm is the deposits laid. Highlighting the absence of faunistic data in deepsea mining exploration regions using the ocean biogeographic information system.
Sdg 14 and the 2030 agenda the inclusion of the oceans as a standalone goal was heralded as a breakthrough, focusing on ocean acidification as a way to bridge the 2030 agenda and the unfcc process. For more than 30 years, through domestic law and bilateral. Actual mining for rees has not been attempted because of environmental issues and cost. In fact the pacific leads the world in this venture.
The liability issues for deep seabed mining project was developed by the centre for international governance innovation cigi, the commonwealth secretariat and the secretariat of the international seabed authority isa to assist in clarifying legal issues of responsibility and liability underpinning the development of exploitation regulations for. In a court appointed meeting today in canada the creditors of nautilus minerals voted. The center for biological diversity and its attorney emily jeffers have filed a lawsuit challenging the validity of exploratory permits that the united states has issued for deepsea mining operations in the clarion clipper zone of the pacific ocean. This study, led by scientists at the national oceanography centre noc, was. There is a high level of uncertainty about the risks deep seabed mining poses to marine environments and communities. Advancements in technology have enabled greater access to these treasures. The international seabed authority isa is charged with formulating and enforcing rules for all seabed mining that takes place in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
279 1222 1389 197 968 1167 813 1206 784 1206 1570 213 238 947 871 1253 975 1397 925 1058 473 718 548 337 822 1481 878 687 94