Decades of Deep Sea Mining Research Show Threat to Seafloor Creatures

Decades of deep sea mining research show threat to seafloor creatures

There's increasing interest in deep-sea mining, but the impacts that this will have on the animals that live in the depths isn't fully understood. A new review led by our scientists is giving us our first insight into how this industry might affect some of the remotest environments in the world.

Review of the impacts of deep-sea mining on ocean ecosystems

The deep sea contains a wealth of mineral resources including cobalt, nickel and copper, widely used metals that are particularly important for the energy transition.  A new study led by London’s Natural History Museum and published in Current Biology examines the impacts of deep sea mining on ocean ecosystems, their extent and how long they could last. This is the first comprehensive review of the environmental impacts of deep-sea mining and dr…