Deep Sea Mining
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the extraction of mineral resources from the ocean below 200 meters is called Deep Sea Mining. Seabed ecosystems are not yet fully explored, and depleting terrestrial deposits amid an increasing demand for metals like lithium, cobalt, copper, nickel, and manganese has driven increased demand to explore Deep Sea Mining.
The two-year deadline for the International Seabed Authority (ISA) to finalize Deep Sea Mining rules, set in 2021, has ended. The ISA started global talks in Jamaica on Monday in what experts believe can essentially lead to the advancement of this controversial industry.
With the growing demand for metals and minerals such as cobalt, copper, gold, nickel, zinc, and rare earth elements, Deep Sea Mining has gained significant attention in recent years. Deep Sea Mining involves various methods to extract mineral resources from the seabed, including dredging, hydraulic mining, and subsea drilling.
Dredging involves the use of a large, underwater machine that sucks up sediment from the ocean floor and pumps it to the surface for processing. Hydraulic mining involves the use of high-pressure water jets to break up the ocean floor and extract minerals. Subsea drilling involves drilling into the ocean floor to access minerals beneath the surface
Mining interests plan to use large, robotic machines to excavate the ocean floor in a way that’s similar to strip mining on land. The materials are pumped up to the ship, while wastewater and debris are dumped into the ocean, forming large sediment clouds underwater. The slurry is then loaded onto barges and shipped to onshore processing facilities.
It is important to weigh the potential benefits of deep-sea mining against the potential risks. If the industry is allowed to proceed, it is essential that we put in place strong safeguards to protect the marine environment.
Practice Question
Q. Deep Sea mining is a controversial industry with the potential to both benefit and harm the environment. Discuss the potential environmental impacts of deep-sea mining and the measures that can be taken to mitigate these impacts.
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Deep-sea mining refers to the extraction of mineral resources from the ocean floor below 200 meters.
Deep-sea mining can disrupt fragile ecosystems, harm marine species, generate sediment plumes that smother marine life, and discharge wastewater containing harmful chemicals into the ocean.
Mitigation measures include conducting research to better understand the deep sea, using more environmentally friendly mining methods, filtering wastewater before discharge, and establishing international regulations to ensure responsible mining practices.
Concerns include the potential harm to unique and fragile ecosystems, pollution of the ocean, limited knowledge of the deep sea, and the release of greenhouse gases during the mining process.
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