An international study over five years analyzed the effects of deep-sea mining in a Pacific area. Samples taken before and after the machinery passed show a notable reduction in the presence of animals from the seabed.
The results warn that the number of macrofaunal organisms decreased by 37% in the directly intervened areas. The research focused on the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, a sector rich in polymetallic nodules that is attracting increasing commercial interest.
The scientific teams identified more than 4,000 animals and compared the biodiversity before and after tons of sediments were extracted. In areas covered by the sediment plume, no decrease in abundance was observed, but there was a 32% reduction in the species richness.
The analysis calls for caution, as the machinery used was smaller than that planned for commercial activities. Environmental organizations warn that the real impact could be much greater. The results have reignited calls for a temporary suspension of this industrial activity.
Economic pressures and environmental limits
Several countries are pushing for deep-sea mining due to the strategic value of minerals like copper, zinc, and other essential inputs for clean technologies. Despite industrial expectations, recent reports indicate that a circular economy and recycling could reduce demand by more than half.
This perspective questions the need to open new extractive fronts in extremely fragile ecosystems. Norway was the first country to enable this exploitation in its maritime territory.
However, social and political pressure resulted in a four-year pause, celebrated by environmental organizations. The Cook Islands and other states also decided to halt permits until solid guarantees on the ecological impact are available.
Meanwhile, some powers are promoting accelerated exploration, intensifying the international debate. More than 35 countries, along with the European Union, support a moratorium to prevent irreversible damage. The goal is to agree on a global framework that prioritizes ocean protection over short-term interests.
The essential role of seabed fauna
Life on the ocean floor performs critical biological functions for the planet’s health. The organisms that inhabit there participate in the decomposition of organic matter and the circulation of nutrients. Their presence supports trophic networks that connect different levels of the ecosystem.
Many species of the seabed are extremely sensitive to physical disturbances. Heavy machinery alters the substrate, destroys habitats, and raises sediments that can take decades to settle.
This impact also affects newly discovered species, whose ecological function is still unknown. Deep fauna contributes to carbon storage in the marine sediments. Altering these processes can release accumulated carbon, affecting the climatic balance.
The protection of these organisms is key to maintaining the ecological stability of the oceans. Recent research intensifies the demand for a global moratorium against an extractive model that threatens little-known ecosystems but essential for ocean health.
