Deep-sea mining, which is expected to be permitted for the first time later this year, could pose a significant risk to ocean ecosystems, with potentially long-lasting and irreversible effects on whales and dolphins. A new study from the University of Exeter and Greenpeace Research Laboratories published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science has highlighted the potential impacts of deep-sea mining on cetaceans — mammals such as whales, dolphins and porpoises — which are highly sensitive to sound.
Noise pollution in the ocean is already a problem for cetaceans and introducing deep seabed mining that is expected to operate 24/7 would inevitably add to existing noise. This noise could overlap with the frequencies at which whales and other cetaceans communicate, potentially putting them at risk.
The Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) in the Pacific Ocean, which is home to more than 20 cetacean species, including dolphins and sperm whales, is of particular interest to mining firms. Mining companies are also looking to target seabed mineral resources in areas around seamounts and deep sea hydrothermal vents. Despite the lack of information regarding the potential impacts of mining on cetaceans, it appears industrial-scale mining could soon begin in one of the planet’s few remaining undisturbed environments.
In June 2021, the Pacific island of Nauru triggered the so-called ‘two-year rule’ and told the International Seabed Authority (ISA), a United Nations body, that it plans to mine the deep sea. Work could begin in June this year with whatever regulations the ISA has formulated by that time. Nauru is working with a Canadian firm, The Metals Company, which has already begun testing mining equipment in the Pacific.
In response to this potential threat to ocean conservation, Greenpeace activists from New Zealand and Mexico have confronted the deep-sea mining vessel Hidden Gem, commissioned by The Metals Company. Scientists warn that there is no time to waste in researching the impacts of deep-sea mining on cetaceans and other marine species. It is essential that any regulations surrounding deep-sea mining are informed by scientific evidence to ensure that ocean ecosystems are not irreversibly damaged.
