Deep Ocean Mining

WHAT IS DEEP OCEAN MINING?

Deep ocean mining Is a growing subfield of experimental seabed mining that involves the retrieval of minerals and deposits from the ocean floor found at the depth of 200 metres to 6500 metres. But this has many negative effects.

HOW IT AFFECTS SEA LIFE?

The digging and gauging of the ocean can alter or destroy deep-sea habitats. This leads to the loss of species out of which many are found nowhere else. This leads to the loss of the ecosystem. Deep sea ocean mining is getting popular due to increasing demands for minerals like aluminium, nickel, copper etc. The demand for these metals is increasing to produce technologies like smartphones, solar panels, wind turbines etc. As the deep sea remains understudied, there are many gaps in our understanding of its ecosystem. This makes it difficult to estimate the effects of deep-sea ocean mining.

HOW IT AFFECTS THE LIVELIHOOD OF THE PEOPLE?

The livelihood of about 3 billion people depends on aquatic biodiversity. Our wrong decisions can affect the life of these people vastly. Deep-sea mining will dislocate the fine sediments on the seafloor creating plumes of suspended particles. Scientists are concerned that these particles may disperse and take a long time to resettle on the seafloor affecting the ecosystem. Animal species like sharks, whales etc will also be affected by this noise and vibrations. If proper measures are not taken, this will affect our ecosystem and our lives vastly.

~ Kriday Gupta (SMSMB)

~ A poster by Ahem Gulati (SMSMB)

~ Detailed Slideshow on Deep Sea Mining by CHARVI GUPTA (SMSMB)

What can we do to minimize the negative effects of deep ocean mining?

1.Sustainable mining practices:

Mining companies should adopt sustainable practices to minimize their environmental footprint. This can include using low-impact mining techniques, minimizing waste and discharges, and implementing measures to reduce the release of pollutants.

2.Regulation and Oversight:

Governments should regulate deep ocean mining operations to ensure that they are conducted in a responsible and sustainable manner. This can include monitoring and enforcing compliance with environmental regulations, setting standards for best practices, and imposing penalties for non-compliance.

3.Research and Development:

More research is needed to better understand the impacts of deep ocean mining on the marine environment and to develop new technologies and approaches for sustainable mining practices. This can include developing new methods for monitoring and assessing environmental impacts, as well as developing new technologies to reduce the environmental footprint of mining operations.

~Anson, Haidong, Taiwan

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