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New results shed light on potential impacts of deep-sea mining on cold-water corals

  • 27 October 2022
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It is increasingly suggested that deep-sea polymetallic sulphide (PMS) deposits could become an important source of mineral resources. These mining operations will remove the targeted substrate, producing potentially toxic sediment plumes both from the in situ seabed excavation and from the wastewater pumped from surface processing vessels back down to just above the seafloor. However, the extent and nature of ecosystem impacts resulting from these plumes has until now been unclear.

A series of studies carried out by iAtlantic researchers at IMAR/Okeanos University of the Azores set out to determine the extent of the area that would potentially be affected by these plumes, and the nature of the direct impacts on seafloor ecosystems such as cold-water corals. Results have recently been published in three peer-reviewed papers and are summarised in a new science brief, available to download now. The publications forming the basis for this science brief are also available as open access papers.

Morato et al. (2022) Modelling the dispersion of seafloor massive sulphide mining plumes in the Mid Atlantic Ridge around the Azores. Front. Mar. Sci. 9:910940. doi: 10.3389/ fmars.2022.910940
Carreiro-Silva et al. (2022) Mechanical and toxicological effects of deep-sea mining sediment plumes on a habitat-forming cold-water octocoral. Front. Mar. Sci. 9:915650. doi: 10.3389/ fmars.2022.915650
Martins et al. (2022) Beyond deep-sea mining sublethal effects: Delayed mortality from acute Cu exposure of the cold-water octocoral Viminella flagellum. Marine Pollution Bulletin 183, doi: 10.1016/j. marpolbul.2022.114051

Key results highlighted in this science brief include the following:

  • Modelling studies in the Azores region project that sediment plumes from seafloor polymetallic sulphide (PMS) mining operations may disperse beyond the licensed mining areas, reaching the flanks and summits of nearby topographic features and extending into the bathypelagic, mesopelagic, and epipelagic environments.
  • Sediment particles contained within such plumes can have sub-lethal and lethal effects on benthic sessile suspension- and filter-feeding fauna (such as deep-water corals) by impairing feeding and respiration.
  • Toxic metals within this suspended sediment – such as copper – bioaccumulate in coral tissues and skeletons. Subsequent coral death may be due to a combination of the toxic and mechanical effects of PMS particles.
  • Delayed mortality in corals exposed even to low concentrations of copper in seawater indicates that some coral species may not recover from the effects of PMS mining plumes. Delayed ecosystem impacts must be considered when predicting the effects of environmental disturbances, such as deep-sea mining, on cold-water coral communities.

 

Aggregation of the whip coral Viminella flagellum on a seamount summit in the Azores. Image © IMAR/Okeanos-UAz, Azor drift-cam.

These results are particularly pertinent and timely as the International Seabed Authority  prepares to convene its Council to continue discussions on the ISA’s Draft Regulations on Exploitation of Mineral Resources in the Area – informally known as the Mining Code. This meeting (Kingston, Jamaica, 31 October – 11 November 2022) includes a series of Informal Working Groups that focus on specific aspects of the draft Mining Code, including a group dedicated to The Protection and Preservation of the Marine Environment. Those interested in following negotiations can do so via the ISA’s webcast coverage: https://isa.org.jm/web-tv

Scale and nature of impacts from mining seafloor polymetallic sulphide deposits: Summary of latest research from the iAtlantic project (PDF)

 

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EU

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 818123 (iAtlantic). This output reflects only the author’s view and the European Union cannot be held responsible for any use that may be  made of the information contained therein.