Check out the top stories from the deep, taken from coverage between 3-10 April 2023
We must stop deep-sea mining before it begins
Source: Thomas Reuters Foundation
Author: Daniela Fernandez, Matthew Gianni
The world is just months away from a critical vote that could determine the fate of our planet for centuries to come: whether to open international waters to destructive deep-sea mining.
The latest meeting of the International Seabed Authority has come to a close in Jamaica, and the future of the deep sea remains uncertain. Daniella Fernandez and Matt Gianni consider the “scientific, economic, and moral” imperative for a global moratorium on deep-sea mining.
Deep-sea mining veers into uncharted territory
Source: Politico
Author: Hannah Northey
International talks around deep-sea mining ended last week with little fanfare and no solid conclusion.
Politico discusses the absence of “solid” commitments from the recent ISA meeting in Jamaica. With submissions for deep-sea mining permits opening in July, the lack of industry-wide regulations is a source of concern for scientists, campaigners and civil society alike.
Experts, Fisherfolk Worried About India’s Seabed Mining Plans
Source: The Wire
Author: Rejimon Kuttapan
While India is readying to mine the seabed, some 6,000 meters below sea level, a senior official from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) says, “there is a need for a moratorium on deep-sea mining”.
Despite global concern about the threats of deep-sea mining, India are pushing forward with plans to mine polymetallic nodules in their national waters. A Chennai based company has already deployed Varaha, an “underwater mining crawler” to run “tests”. Regional fisherfolk and Indian civil society are raising concerns about the potentially devastating outcome of this practice.
Deep-Sea Data Management Gaps and Inconsistencies Leave Sensitive Ecosystems Vulnerable to Mining
Source: PEW
Author: Peter Edwards, Ph.D.
New paper urges the International Seabed Authority act to better protect marine life and habitats.
Conservation scientist Dr Peter Edwards explains why our lack of “data” on the deep sea should dictate our management of it. He argues that “one of the fundamental premises of sound environmental management is that one needs good data to make good decisions”, and that consequently the deep sea should not be exploited for mining.
How do fish survive in the deep ocean?
Source: BBC
Author: Isabelle Gerretsen
Scientists have recorded the deepest fish ever on camera. How have animals adapted to survive in the dark, crushing depths of our oceans?
In recent weeks, scientists have recorded fish swimming at the deepest depths ever observed. Surviving in “hostile conditions” which were previously unprecedented, scientists continue to marvel at the wonders of deep sea life.