Deep-sea mining might seem like a distant concern, very far at the bottom of the oceans where no even light can reach. So why would we care ? However, its effects on our planet are profound and alarming. It is essential that we fight against it but first off all understand what is the Deep sea mining problem and what is at stake.
What is deep sea mining ?
The exploitation of the deep seabed, also known as deep sea mining, involves extracting metals and rare materials found in the depths of the ocean (200 meters below sea level). This extraction often takes place in environmentally sensitive areas like hydrothermal vent systems and deep-sea coral reefs, as it is in these rich ecosystems that we find the valuables materials.
Deep sea mining operations are still relatively few in number, as they require equipment that is very resistant to extreme depths. However, as technology improves and the need for rare metals increases, deep sea mining operations gain ground and so do the environmental and climatic risks related to those operations.
These mineral resources such as cobalt, nickel, lithium, and sometimes gold are found in all the oceans of the world, but more specifically in the central basin of the Indian Ocean, around the Cook Islands, Kiribati, and French Polynesia, in the Magellan seamounts in the Pacific Ocean, and east of Japan.
Why do we exploit the bottom of the oceans ?
Deep sea mining is directly linked to our capitalist systems and the evolution of modern technologies, which require rare materials. These resources are essential for manufacturing electronic devices like batteries, mobile phones, laptops, …
Paradoxically, these rare materials are also crucial to ensure our energy transition: manufacturing solar batteries, building wind turbines, and photovoltaic panels...
To move us away from the massive use of fossil fuels and the environmental impacts of the capitalist system, we need to further exploit these resources to produce "green" technologies. This creates a paradox: to escape a model based on polluting energies, we must intensify mining activities that will have severe consequences for marine ecosystems and in turn will affect humanity. This dilemma makes deep sea mining a topic of debate.
What is the impact of this extraction ?
The impacts of deep sea mining are far reaching. It has both an environmental impact and climate consequences.
Environmental impact:
Destruction of Ecosystems: destroy unique and fragile marine habitats, disrupting ecosystems that are crucial for biodiversity.
Pollution: Sediment plumes and toxic chemicals released during mining can smother marine life and contaminate water sources.
Species Extinction: lead to the loss of species that may never be found again, erasing important genetic diversity.
Climate Consequences
Carbon Sequestration: Deep-sea ecosystems play a vital role in capturing and storing carbon. Disrupting these systems can release stored carbon back into the atmosphere, exacerbating climate change.
Heat Regulation: The deep ocean helps regulate global temperatures by distributing heat. Mining can interfere with this process, potentially leading to further climate instability.
What is the legal framework around Deep Sea Mining ?
The primary international legal instrument governing deep-sea mining is the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which establishes guidelines for how countries can exploit and protect resources in international waters.
This convention covers the geographical aspects of the deep sea mining operations. Countries have jurisdiction over seabed mining within their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ), which extend up to 200 nautical miles from their coasts. The seabed and ocean floor beyond these national jurisdictions are managed by the International Seabed Authority (ISA). They ensures that activities, including deep-sea mining, are carried out in a way that benefits all humanity, with particular attention to environmental protection.
However those environmental concerns are relatively limited as there is a lack of comprehensive data on the ecosystems that may be affected. There is growing concern among environmental groups and scientists that mining could damage deep-sea habitats, some of which are still not fully understood. As a result, there are calls for stricter environmental impact assessments and moratoriums on deep-sea mining until more research is conducted.
What is the moratorium on Deep sea mining ?
Beginning of 2024, Norway took the decision to open the doors to deep sea mining in the artic. The problem of this decision is that the area opened by the Norwegian decision is partly international waters, where the EU has major interests. This would have massive consequences on EU States, fisheries, local economies and our global climate. This decision also breaches several conventions on international law.
Following the adoption of this text by the Norwegian government, the European parliament has called for a global moratorium on the deep sea mining industry. It condemns Norway's decision, recalling that it was based on an insufficient Environmental Impact Assessment and without proper consultation of neighbouring States, which is against its obligation in international law.
While there are legal frameworks like the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the International Seabed Authority (ISA) to regulate deep-sea mining, the issue remains subject to significant international debate, particularly around environmental impacts. This is why the strong call from the European Parliament to defend the deep seas is simply historic.
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The latest good news for the planet.
On December first, 2024, Norway decided to temporarily suspend its underwater mining project in its Arctic waters, scheduled for 2025, following budget negotiations with the Socialist Left. This news is a real achievement for many activists, NGOs and scientists from other European countries who had been denouncing the astronomical environmental impact of this project. However, the Norwegian prime minister made it clear that this was only a postponement, not a cancellation. Norway wants to obtain undersea minerals that are essential for the energy transition, but opening up the seabed to exploitation remains controversial.
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Website : https://reut.rs/3ygd1Qp
Book : "Deep-Sea Mining: Resource Potential, Technical and Environmental Considerations"Â by Rahul Sharma
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