Seabed mining and the loss of biodiversity
A recent Nature study reveals alarming new information about the long-term effects of seabed mining and its sustainability.
Earlier this year, scientists from multiple organizations studied deep-sea mining regions such as the Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ) in the Pacific Ocean. Their focus was a site first mined in 1979 during early experimental operations. With 44 years having passed, the site offered a valuable case study for understanding what scars remain and how the environment has changed.
The researchers analyzed footage and sediment samples to estimate the environmental impact of the original mining trial. They found that the technology used in 1979 left lasting geological disruption. It was apparent that the sediment underwent a significant disruption.