Ocean Break Seminar: Environmental Risks of Deep-Sea Mining

13/12/2024
13:00 - 14:00

Deep-sea mining poses significant risks to marine ecosystems, particularly through the release of sediment plumes, heavy metals, and acidification. Targeting metallic sulfides rich in manganese, iron, and nickel, these activities threaten fragile hydrothermal vent systems while disrupting biogeochemical cycles, sediment dynamics, and benthic communities. During the MIRAE expedition (2023), led by the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), sediments and rocks were collected from black smokers along the Indian Ocean’s mid-ocean ridge. Toxicity tests using tropical and temperate species, including amphipods (Tiburonella viscana), mussel embryos (Perna perna), clams (Ruditapes sp.), and the gastropod Gibbula sp., revealed severe impacts such as high mortality, developmental abnormalities, and physiological stress. By combining insights from toxicity studies and biomarker responses, this research underscores the urgent need for stringent environmental monitoring, robust regulatory frameworks, and sustainable practices to mitigate the ecological consequences of deep-sea mineral exploitation. These findings highlight the critical importance of precautionary approaches to safeguard deep-sea ecosystems while balancing economic interests.