UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 30th March 2025

Home UPSC Current Affairs Findings of a new study about the long-term impact of deep-sea mining

Findings of a new study about the long-term impact of deep-sea mining

Why in News?

A new study published in the journal Nature has revealed that a strip of the Pacific Ocean seabed, mined for metals over 40 years ago, has still not recovered. The study highlights the long-term ecological damage caused by deep sea mining (DSM) and comes at a time of increasing global calls for a moratorium on such activity due to environmental concerns.

Also Read: India needs to develop its deep-sea capabilities

Key Findings of the Study

The study titled “Long-term impact and biological recovery in a deep-sea mining track” was conducted by researchers led by the UK’s National Oceanography Centre.
It focused on a site in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) of the Pacific Ocean that was mined for polymetallic nodules in the 1970s and 1980s.

Key Observations:

- The seafloor still shows significant sediment disturbances even after four decades.
- Populations of large benthic organisms (such as sponges, sea cucumbers, and other bottom-dwelling life forms) remain dramatically reduced.
- Natural recovery in such deep-sea ecosystems is extremely slow due to low biological productivity and minimal sediment deposition rates.

Environmental and Ecological Concerns

Deep sea mining targets polymetallic nodules rich in cobalt, nickel, copper, and manganese — essential for electric vehicle batteries and green technologies.
However, mining causes:
- Destruction of fragile habitats on the ocean floor.
- Sediment plumes that can smother marine organisms over large areas.
- Loss of undiscovered biodiversity, with many deep-sea species yet to be classified.
The new study provides empirical evidence that even small-scale mining leaves long-lasting scars, raising questions about the sustainability of proposed commercial DSM operations.

Global Context: Calls for a Moratorium

The findings come amid rising international pressure to pause all deep sea mining activities until robust scientific understanding and regulatory frameworks are in place.
Environmental groups, scientists, and some Pacific island nations have urged the International Seabed Authority (ISA) to implement a global moratorium.
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) governs seabed activities in international waters, but a final mining code is still under negotiation.

Analytical Perspective

Balance between Sustainability and Resource Needs
- While deep sea mining promises access to critical minerals vital for green transitions (e.g. EVs, solar panels), it may contradict global environmental commitments, including SDG 14 – Life Below Water.
- The debate reflects the sustainability paradox: extracting minerals for clean energy at the cost of marine ecosystems.
Precautionary Principle in Environmental Governance
- The study strengthens the argument for applying the Precautionary Principle, which states that lack of full scientific certainty should not delay preventive environmental action.
- This principle is often cited in international environmental law, especially under Rio Declaration 1992.

Conclusion

The new study underscores the long-lasting and possibly irreversible damage caused by deep sea mining. As the world moves toward a cleaner energy future, it must also ensure that the means of achieving it do not compromise ecosystem integrity. A science-based, legally binding framework — possibly backed by a moratorium on DSM — is urgently needed to balance development with deep-sea conservation.