Check out the top stories from the deep, taken from coverage between 22 – 29 August 2022
Huge blow to Pacific deep sea mining
Source: The Pacific Advocate
Author: Shalveen Chand
“The Cook Islands, Kiribati, Tonga, and Nauru act as sponsor states for exploration permits in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone in accordance with UNCLOS regulations administered by the International Seabed Authority. The expedition, named the DeepCCZ, found a range of extremely rare micro-fauna from starfish to sea cucumbers living on the seabed.”
The Pacific Advocate discusses the findings of the Deep CCZ (Clarion-Clipperton Zone) Expedition on Deep Sea biodiversity. It outlines the findings’ outcome on the recent ISA assembly.
La minería submarina, la nueva gran amenaza para la conservación de los fondos oceánicos
Source: Landera Sur
Author: Tamara Núñez
Landura Ser extensively contextualizes the growing battle over the deep sea bed. The piece outlines companies’ motivations for accessing deep sea minerals but proffers the environmental dangers and growing scientific rebuttal.
(Column) The Metals Company Raises Cash to Stay Afloat [Offshore Accounts]
Source: Baird Maritime
Author: ‘Hieronymus Bosch’
“The environmental concerns about the impact of sucking up thousands of tons of nodules, which have lain undisturbed on the abyssal plain of the Pacific Ocean for millions of years, are just not going to go away.”
The Metals Company have reported “a stonking loss of US$12.4 million”. Bosch suggests that as concerns over deep sea mining continue, the company is ‘diluting’ shares in an attempt to stay afloat.
There’s a ‘Lost City’ Deep in The Ocean, And It’s a Place Unlike Anywhere Else
Source: Science Alert
Author: Carly Cassella
“Close to the summit of an underwater mountain west of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a jagged landscape of towers rises from the gloom.”
The ‘Lost City Hydrothermal Field’ exists more than 700m below the surface of the Ocean. Forming over 120,000 years, the carbonate ‘monoliths’ comprise a magnificent and delicate deep sea ecosystem.
Costa Rica Asks to Evaluate Environmental Risk Before Starting Seabed Mining in International Waters
Source: The Costa Rica News
Author: TCRN Staff
“Faced with pressure to start mining on the seabed in international areas, Costa Rica requested an extension to analyze the environmental risks.”
TCRN (The Costa Rica News) summarizes Costa Rica’s position; that Deep Sea Mining would breach the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea’s mandate to protect Marine Life.