So what! We can manage to do minging without doing much harm to the environment and fauna.
Apparently, some areas of this special deep sea zone are already protected (see e.g. chart below)!
Note also the speculative nature of the research article.
"Plans to mine the ocean floor in one of the most remote stretches of the Pacific are facing renewed scrutiny, following the discovery of whales and dolphins — including an endangered sperm whale — in the area.
The Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), a vast abyssal plain stretching between Hawaii and Mexico, has long been targeted by mining companies for its rich deposits of polymetallic nodules. ...
Now, two new studies suggest the deep-sea ecosystems in the CCZ may be far more biologically complex — and vulnerable — than previously thought. ..."
"Deep-sea mining in a remote part of the Pacific Ocean could harm ocean life including whales and dolphins, new research shows. ..."
From the highlights and abstract:
"Highlights
• Noise from deep-sea mining is expected to ensonify the water column and compromise nearby reference zones
• The majority of taxa have not been studied for noise sensitivity, leaving critical knowledge gaps [???]
• Soniferous fish, key to deep-sea soundscapes, may face elevated risks from noise pollution
• Data sharing on mining noise is essential for risk management and mitigation
Abstract
Deep-sea mining activities in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), Pacific Ocean, are expected to generate continuous noise pollution across multiple depth zones, with potential impacts on biodiversity. Impact studies have primarily focused on sediment plumes and habitat destruction, leaving consequences of industrial-scale deep-sea mining noise largely unexplored.
Many marine taxa, including invertebrates, fish, and mammals, rely on sound for communication, navigation, and predator avoidance. Our systematic literature review highlights that noise sensitivity is widespread across taxa, yet only 35 % of taxonomic classes known in the CCZ have been studied for noise impacts. Soniferous fish, which rely on acoustic communication, are particularly vulnerable to noise. Chronic exposure to mining noise may have [???] cascading ecological consequences, disrupting key behaviors and physiological processes in an environment characterized by low anthropogenic stressors.
By identifying knowledge gaps and quantifying taxa likely to be vulnerable to industrial noise, this review provides the foundation to guide evidence-based management required to safeguard deep-sea ecosystems.
Given the uncertainty surrounding deep-sea biotic responses to prolonged noise exposure, we emphasize the urgent need for a transparent transfer of knowledge on noise characteristics of deep-sea mining. These data are essential for assessing risks from mining noise to species, communities, and ecosystem functions and services."
Deep-sea mining could harm remote ocean ecosystems (original news release)
Noise from deep-sea mining in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, Pacific Ocean will impact a broad range of marine taxa (no public access)
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