Check out the top stories from the deep, taken from coverage between 8-15 May 2023
Five reasons to take the precautionary approach to deep sea exploitation
Source: Nature
Author: Kelsey Bisson, Helena McMonagle, Ilysa Iglesias, Svenja Halfter & Natalya Gallo
Authors of a new study outline five reasons why they advocate for a precautionary approach to deep-sea exploitation in order to make evidence-based decisions.
It is not known how fishing and deep sea-mining might impact biodiversity and wider food webs.
Ocean groups slam fishing Industry Transformation Plan as ‘status quo plus subsidies’
Source: Greenpeace
Author: Ellie Hooper
Environmental and recreational fishing groups (Greenpeace, Forest & Bird, LegaSea and the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition) have slammed the government’s draft Fisheries Industry Transformation Plan, saying the plan does nothing to tackle the threat of destructive bottom trawling.
“It is crystal clear that bottom trawling is not the future of fishing. We need it out of sensitive areas immediately, and a clear deadline to get all trawl nets off the seabed.” – Karli Thomas of the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition.
Ngāti Ruanui and Taranaki iwi back anti-seabed mining bill, despite Labour snub
Source: Te Ao Māori News
Author: Tema Hemi
Māori Party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer says valuable minerals versus the health and well-being of ocean ecosystems has absolutely no equivalence.
Despite the bill last year, the New Zealand government made a decision to back a conditional global moratorium on deep-sea mining. It’s a decision that has many local environmental advocates stumped.
Youths to G7: Protect Our Generation
Source: The Revelator
Author: Maxime van Hoeve
Y7 Communiqué calls on the G7 to Support the United Nations Convention for the Laws of the Seas by banning deep-sea mining.
An op-ed on whether global diplomacy will listen to the voices of their youngest constituents and act on climate change and environmental degradation.
Pro Take: Can Nickel, Cobalt and Other Battery Metals Be Sourced Sustainably?
Source: WSJ Sustainable Business
Author: Yusuf Khan
The sourcing of nickel has been thrown into spotlight as companies and countries withdraw support for deep-sea mining.
“There’s lots of changing innovation in battery technologies from producers downstream because of environmental and human rights issues,” said Louisa Casson, global project leader for Greenpeace’s Stop Deep Sea Mining campaign.