15 Feb 2021

Deepsea mining interests move fast on Pacific ecosystem

From , 5:01 am on 15 February 2021

Advocates of deepsea mining are moving quickly with their bid to extract polymetallic nodules off the floor of the Pacific ocean.

The Pacific seabed is a potential source of many minerals including nickel, cobalt and other rare earth metals used for modern, low-carbon infrastructure, particularly batteries.

The International Seabed Authority, a UN-mandated body, is developing regulations on mining in international waters, which could greatly impact the health of ocean ecosystems and seafood supply chains.

In this second of a 2-part series, Dateline Pacific dissects the risks of deepsea mining with two ocean scientists:

Douglas McCauley is a Professor of Ocean Science at the University of California, and is Director of the Benioff Ocean Initiative - an applied ocean research center based at UC Santa Barbara's Marine Science Institute.

Jeff Drazen is a Professor in the Oceanography Department at the University of Hawaii.

Professor Drazen begins this segment, hosted by RNZ Pacific's Johnny Blades, talking about potential impacts on the slow evolving ecosystems on the seabed and the marine species that rely on them.

DeepGreen Metals' partner Allseas acquired this former ultra-deepwater drill ship “Vitoria 10000” for conversion to a polymetallic nodule collection vessel.

DeepGreen Metals' partner Allseas acquired this former ultra-deepwater drill ship “Vitoria 10000” for conversion to a polymetallic nodule collection vessel. Photo: DeepGreen Metals