Study Reveals Lasting Impact Of Deep-Sea Mining

Photo: Greenpeace

India-West News Desk

NEW DELHI – A new study has found that deep-sea mining conducted more than 40 years ago in the Pacific Ocean continues to affect marine ecosystems, raising concerns over its lasting environmental impact.

Researchers from Britain’s National Oceanography Centre analyzed the Clarion Clipperton Zone, a mineral-rich area of the ocean floor, and found that a test mining experiment from 1979 caused lasting sediment changes and reductions in populations of larger marine organisms. While some smaller, mobile species have begun to recover, overall biodiversity remains affected.

The study comes as delegates from 36 countries gather in Kingston, Jamaica, for a U.N. International Seabed Authority meeting. They are debating a mining code that will regulate the potential extraction of valuable metals like copper and cobalt from the ocean floor.

Environmental groups and 32 governments have called for a halt to deep-sea mining, warning of possible irreversible damage. “This latest evidence makes it even clearer why governments must act now to stop deep-sea mining before it ever starts,” said Greenpeace campaigner Louise Casson.

As discussions continue, stakeholders are weighing the economic benefits of seabed mining against its long-term ecological risks. The outcome of this meeting could shape international policy, influencing whether commercial deep-sea mining moves forward or faces heightened restrictions.