Reference Zones

Reference Zones to Measure Deep Sea Mining’s Impact on Seafloor

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is charged with regulating deep-sea mining in the Area and its environmental impacts.  To evaluate these impacts, the ISA’s rules call for contractors to delineate and monitor Impact Reference Zones (IRZs) and Preservation Reference Zones (PRZs).  In general, an IRZ represents the area impacted by mining operations. A PRZ, in […]

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subsea mining

The Price of Subsea Mining

KIRA COLEY on MARINE TECHNOLOGY NEWS | 24 October 2017 “Over millions of years, metal particles accrete onto sediment grains slowly forming lumps of commercially-valuable metallic ores in deep aphotic basins three miles underwater. As resources dwindle, mining companies are increasingly looking to the ocean to provide the metals and minerals we need. But environmental […]

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seafloor expedition

Seafloor expedition data will help assess future deep-sea mining

JAMES MCNISH on NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM | 10 October 2017 “The research, led by the Museum, has expanded the number of known species of mollusc living on the zone’s seafloor from one to 21, with some species new to science. According to Dr Adrian Glover, principal investigator of the Museum’s Deep-sea Systematics and Ecology Research […]

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future deep-sea mining

New species could help monitor impact of future deep-sea mining

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM LONDON (NHM) | 25 September 2017 “The sponges live on the ocean floor on metal-rich nodules. The region where they live is targeted by deep-sea mining companies interested in mineral extraction. Scientists believe they are likely the most abundant animal living on the nodules and could be a key indicator species for […]

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deep sea monitoring

Japan Pioneers Long-Term Deep Sea Monitoring Technology

The Japan Agency for Marine‐Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) is field-testing a new monitoring system for long-term environmental data collection on the deep seafloor. The Edokko Mark I is a simple deep sea shuttle camera which descends from a surface vessel to the seafloor using its own weight, captures images and floats back to the […]

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Minmetals

China Minmetals flags off deep-sea mining voyage

REUTERS | 29 August 2017 “BEIJING (Reuters) – China Minmetals Corp [CHMIN.UL] has flagged off its maiden deep-sea venture seeking minerals in the east Pacific Ocean, a company spokesman confirmed. The ’Xiang Yang Hong 06’ survey vessel, with a crew of 26, on Tuesday left Qingdao in China’s eastern Shandong province for the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture […]

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explore deep seabed

Research Missions Explore Deep Seabed

Exploring some of the world’s most remote ocean regions is no small task, especially when the mission includes investigation of benthic habitats and features on the forefront of interest to the deep seabed mining industry.  Yet a slurry of such expeditions has recently been undertaken, launching headlines around the world and contributing to our scientific […]

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