A farewell from the Editor: It’s science fiction, until it isn’t.

Andrew Thaler for the DSM Observer Four years ago, I took over the Deep-sea Mining Observer from my predecessor, Arlo Hemphill. Conceived by the Pew Charitable Trust in 2016, The DSM Observer was created to be an online trade journal for the emerging industry as the International Seabed Authority navigated through the creation of an […]

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“Let us be up to the task that has been given to us” – Four key takeaways from the summer meeting of the International Seabed Authority

Andrew Thaler for the DSM Observer After nearly a month and a half of meetings, including of the Legal and Technical Commission, the Finance Committee, the Council, and the Assembly, the Second part of the 27th Session of the International Seabed Authority came to a close on August 4th, 2022. Though a critical moment for […]

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This Week in Deep-sea Mining: July 12, 2022

Headlines The Guardian: One deep sea mine could send noise 500km across the ocean – report Japan Today: Outgunned island states vow to fight deep-sea mining Reuters: France’s Macron says deep-sea mining must not go ahead Asia Pacific Report: Fiji, Palau and Samoa call for deep-sea mining moratorium at UN conference Eco-Business: Singapore affirms support […]

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This Week in Deep-sea Mining: May 31, 2022

Headlines The Week: All you need to know about Varaha-1, a seabed mining machine India is developing Reuters: G7 countries say strict environmental rules needed for deep-sea mining Eco-Business: Credit Suisse joins growing list of banks shunning deep-sea mining Mining Dot Com: The Metals Company deep-water tests polymetallic nodule collector vehicle in Atlantic Daily Beast: […]

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This Week in Deep-sea Mining – March 15, 2022

Headlines The Guardian: As the ocean industrial revolution gains pace the need for protection is urgent Canada’s National Observer: Deep-sea mining could begin next year. Here’s why ocean experts are calling for a moratorium The Guardian: UN ocean treaty is ‘once in a lifetime’ chance to protect the high seas Papers Nature Communications: Battery technology […]

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This Week in Deep-sea Mining – March 8, 2022

Headlines Grist: Deep-sea mining could begin next year. Here’s why ocean experts are calling for a moratorium. Eco-business: Ukraine war gives ammunition to the deep-sea mining lobby New York Times: Oil prices rise and trading is halted in nickel after price surge. Financial Times: London Metal Exchange suspends nickel trading after contract soars to $100,000 […]

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What we’ve missed in the Abyss: Mining 40 years of cruise reports for biodiversity and research effort data from deep-sea hydrothermal vents.

Andrew Thaler for Southern Fried Science In the forty years since that first discovery, hundreds of research expedition ventured into the deep oceans to study and understand the ecology of deep-sea hydrothermal vents. In doing so, they discovered thousands of new species, unraveled the secrets of chemosynthesis, and fundamentally altered our understanding of what it […]

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Advanced spatial planning models could promise new era of sustainable ocean development

Advanced spatial planning models could promise new era of sustainable ocean development

FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY | 5 March 2018 TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Earth’s vast oceans brim with potential for commercial activities ranging from tourism to shipping to alternative energy, but planning for the sustainable coexistence of different and competing industries has proved a complicated task. Now, researchers led by Florida State University Assistant Professor of Geography Sarah […]

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