Deep seabed mining lacks social legitimacy
Aline Jaeckel, Harriet Harden‐Davies, Diva J. Amon, Jesse van der Grient, Quentin Hanich, Judith van Leeuwen, Holly J. Niner, Katherine Seto
Abstract
The technology to mine the ocean floor for valuable minerals such as copper, nickel, and cobalt is currently being developed. Scientists have warned repeatedly about potentially serious and irreversible environmental impacts from deep seabed mining (DSM), including but not limited to: removal and destruction of sensitive and poorly known seafloor habitats and species; metal-contaminated and fine-particle sediment plumes that can impact benthic and pelagic fauna; changes to water properties; and increases in noise and light 1 , 2 . What remains to be substantially debated are the social impacts of DSM.
Topics & Concepts
SeabedLegitimacyCommonsEquity (law)Environmental resource managementMining engineeringPolitical scienceOceanographyGeologyEnvironmental scienceLawPoliticsMining and Resource ManagementArctic and Russian Policy StudiesHydropower, Displacement, Environmental Impact