Deep-Sea Mining and the Perils for Aquatic Life
The undertaking of deep-sea mining could prove detrimental to various marine creatures, as suggested by a study conducted at the Geomar Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research Kiel. The research, published in "Nature Communications," focused on helmet jellyfish, which exhibited distress when exposed to simulated sediment clouds [1].
Deep-sea mining disturbs layers of sediment bed, such as manganese nodules, stirring up fine particles. These sediment clouds can extend up to 100-4000 kilometers, impacting animals not just on the ocean floor but in the pelagic area as well. Pelagic is a zone rich in marine life like jellyfish, fish, squid, and marine mammals. Given the low sediment concentration in this area, these animals are highly susceptible to sediment clouds caused by mining [1].
Pelagic inhabitants are critical for the marine food web, providing sustenance for numerous species. Co-author Helena Hauss from the Norwegian Research Center (Norce) highlighted that these creatures have evolved under more stable environmental conditions than surface-dwelling animals, which makes them more vulnerable to altering environmental conditions [1].
Determining stress erodes jellyfish
Determining the stress level of a jellyfish is no easy feat, admits Geomar researcher Vanessa Stenvers. Changes in physiology, genetic activity, and microorganisms on the animal were considered. The most apparent visible impact was the adhesion of sediment particles to the jellyfish, prompting the jellyfish to produce excess mucus [1].
"Although mucus helps maintain the animal's microbiome, continual mucus production demands substantial energy, consuming a significant portion of the animal's total energy budget," Stenvers explains. Additionally, increased sediment builds up cause wide-ranging effects on gene activation related to respiration, the immune system, and wound healing [1].
When energy consumption increases, resources must be compensated with increased food intake, points out the research team. However, food sources are scarce in the deep sea. Consequently, sediment in the water could exacerbate the risk of starvation for pelagic inhabitants [1].
Deep-Sea Mining: A Looming Threat or Opportunity?
Despite potential hazards, commercial exploitation of materials beneath international seas holds unforeseen dangers to local ecosystems. Most recently, talks on how to manage deep-sea mining concluded without any binding decisions in the summer. The International Seabed Authority (ISA) members only agreed on the objective to adopt regulations in 2025 [2].
While some have denounced deep-sea mining as a potential environmental catastrophe, others advocate for sustainable practices to extract valuable minerals like manganese, cobalt, copper, and nickel needed to manufacture batteries, for instance [2]. The debate concerning deep-sea mining persists, with some countries still to clarify their positions, and the USA not being an ISA member state [2].
Additional Insights
Four significant effects of deep-sea mining on the marine environment are worth noting:
- Sediment plumes
- Water quality degradation
- Reduction in nutrients and oxygen availability, threatening pelagic inhabitants
- Noise pollution
- Stress and disruption to communication and behavior of pelagic animals
- Light pollution
- Alteration of behavior patterns and feeding, causing further stress and energy consumption
- Toxic impacts
- Bioaccumulation through sediment deposition in marine organisms
Enrichment Data
Impact on the marine food web is likely to be severe, with cascading effects:
- Cascading Effects
- Changes in fish populations resulting in impacts on larger predators
- Alterations in nutrient cycling leading to phytoplankton and zooplankton population impairment
- Biodiversity Loss
- Sensitive species extinction due to habitat removal and degradation
- Compromised food web stability
- Climate Change Amplification
- Pelagic animals becoming more susceptible to climate change-driven habitat changes
- Reduced marine food web resilience to other disturbances [1][3][4]
References: [1] [2] Enrichment Data: Deep-Sea Mining and Pelagic Food Web Impact [3] [4] [5]
