The Silent Scream of the Deep: How Deep-Sea Mining Threatens the Ocean

Humans once thought the deep sea was a barren wasteland. However, the discovery of organisms in soil samples from 4,000 meters deep in the 19th century and Jacques Piccard’s finding of a flatfish in the Mariana Trench in 1960 revealed otherwise. The deep sea, the largest biosphere on Earth, teems with countless species, many still unknown. While the number of marine organisms decreases with depth, species diversity remains vast. So far, according to a reputable repositor around 30,000 species have been identified, with potentially thousands or even millions more, including fish, corals, jellyfish, octopuses, worms, sponges, clams, and crabs.

New threat on the horizon to this ‘last frontier’

The first 200 meters of the ocean are what is known as the epipelagic zone, or just “open ocean”. Much of the marine life that we know and see lives there. The deep sea is generally defined as the depth at which light begins to dwindle, typically around 200 meters. In depths below 1,000 meters is a realm of total darkness, freezing temperatures, and immense pressure. Despite its challenging conditions, the deep sea supports a diverse range of life forms, making it one of the most mysterious and unexplored regions of our planet.

This unique ecosystem, home to enigmatic marine life, is under threat from a new and potentially highly destructive industrial activity: deep-sea mining. Deep-sea mining involves extracting minerals and other valuable resources from the ocean floor. This process targets resources such as polymetallic nodules, seafloor massive sulfides, and cobalt-rich crusts, which contain metals like manganese, copper, nickel, and rare earth elements.

The possible impacts of deep-sea mining are largely unknown. Although existing information on this potentially destructive activity has led scientists to warn against biodiversity loss and irreversible environmental destruction. For example, a recent groundbreaking discovery revealed that oxygen is produced in the deep sea through a process associated with polymetallic nodules, even in the absence of sunlight. This study challenges our understanding of oxygen production and may have significant implications for assessing the impacts of deep-sea mining. At the very least, these findings underscore the gaps in our knowledge about the intricate web and functioning of deep sea ecosystems.

Ocean noise a significant threat generated by deep-sea mining

In the murky depths of the ocean, the survival of marine species depends largely on acoustics. Mining generates vibrations in the sea from the surface down to the seabed. Ships and platforms float above, from which riser systems with pumps extend down to the machines on the seabed. Along the entire water column, marine animals are impacted by noise emissions. Noise in the ocean is dangerous and disrupts the vital life functions, including communication and orientation of marine life. OceanCare is therefore extremely concerned about the underwater noise pollution that would be generated by DSM.

Growing international resistance to deep-sea mining

There is currently no evidence that the marine environment can be effectively protected from the harmful effects of deep-sea mining. The opposition to deep-sea mining – from governments, scientists, civil society, but especially private businesses and the financial sector – is growing. Opponents make a strong case that the impacts of DSM are poorly understood and the risks, especially environmental, are unacceptable. While proponents of deep-sea mining argue that these minerals are essential for the clean energy transition, other private sector actors advocate for a moratorium and suggest investing in alternative, more abundant resources. They also promote the development of less damaging metals, the design of batteries that require fewer minerals, and the enhancement of recycling systems to support an effective circular economy.

By August 2024, 32 countries have announced their support for a moratorium, precautionary pause, or a ban on deep-sea mining, along with parliamentarians around the world, Indigenous and civil society groups, major companies, financial institutions, and over 750 science and policy experts from more than 44 countries.

The Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), with 133 Parties, shares these concerns by adopting a resolution earlier this year. The resolution urges Parties to refrain from engaging in or supporting deep-sea mining until there is sufficient and robust scientific information to ensure that such activities do not negatively impact marine migratory species, their prey, or their ecosystems. The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) recently concluded that “the development of an effective common regulatory framework presupposes the existence of adequate information on the state of the marine environment based on updated scientific criteria and methods”. In respect to DSM, the international community lacks such “adequate information” and science about the deep sea, which makes it difficult to establish an effective regulatory framework.

Moving towards a moratorium on deep-sea mining

Preventing the exploitation of deep-sea minerals is the only way to protect the ocean and marine life from damaging and irreversible impacts. Allowing this destructive industry to proceed before fully investigating and understanding the environmental risks is irresponsible.

OceanCare has recently launched the international petition Because Our Planet Is Blue, which calls for a global moratorium on deep-sea mining. This petition highlights the need to protect the deep sea from industrial exploitation and destruction.

Members of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the organisation responsible for regulating mineral resource activities in the international seabed, must resist pressure to adopt a flawed regulatory framework (“Mining Code”), especially given the current lack of scientific information necessary for making an informed decision. States should also refrain from approving deep-sea mining within their national waters.