The midwater zone, a deep and dark ocean ecosystem starting about 650 feet below the surface, is home to unique creatures adapted to crushing pressure and near-total darkness. This zone, including the twilight and midnight zones, sustains life across the planet.
Whales and commercially valuable fish like tuna depend on this zone for food. However, deep-sea mining poses a significant threat to this fragile ecosystem due to the growing demand for metals in electric car batteries and smartphones.
The Clarion-Clipperton Zone
The Clarion-Clipperton Zone, southeast of Hawaii, contains polymetallic nodules rich in nickel, cobalt, and manganese, essential for batteries and other technologies. Mining companies are increasingly targeting this remote area, with test mining underway and plans for full-scale commercial operations advancing.
Environmental Impact
The mining process involves collector vehicles that scrape the ocean floor, disrupting habitats and threatening biodiversity. This can cause irreversible damage to seafloor ecosystems. The collected nodules are transported to a ship, where they are separated from waste, creating sediment plumes when the leftover slurry is dumped back into the water column.
These plumes can interfere with animals’ feeding, disrupt food webs, and alter behaviors. Fine sediments can clog respiratory and feeding structures, while also diluting food resources.
Climate Regulation and the Role of the ISA
The midwater zone plays a crucial role in regulating Earth’s climate by capturing atmospheric carbon. Current mining regulations primarily focus on the seafloor, overlooking broader ecosystem impacts. The International Seabed Authority (ISA) will discuss key decisions on seabed mining, including regulations for mining waste and environmental protection.
Comprehensive studies on the impact of seafloor mining are essential to avoid irreversible damage to these fragile ecosystems. The ISA is currently negotiating regulations that will determine the future of deep-sea mining. Many countries are calling for a pause on deep-sea mining until the environmental risks are better understood.