Little is know about the oceans that cover 70% of the earths surface and even less is known about the deep sea.
For many years scientists, fishermen and conservationists have been aware of the damage that fishing is doing to the ocean floor. Now there is a new threat to our oceans. After 50 years of talk, deep sea mining is coming and it is going to start in the Bismarck Sea off Papua New Guinea.
Billions of dollars have been spent to make this new industry a reality, but it has been spent exploring for mineable deposits – with relatively little invested in understanding the deep sea.
Deep sea mining is set to commence long before we understand much about the mineral rich vents and the communities that thrive in the unique environment. Let alone understand the impacts that exploration and mining have on sensitive and ancient marine environments.
Similarly, social impacts have been ignored. Local people, such as the Djual Islanders are concerned about the impacts of such activities on the marine environment and their subsistence lifestyles. Unfortunately neither the PNG Government or the proponent are there to here their concerns.
The Mineral Policy Institute is proposing an international forum to assist in the evaluation and monitoring of any potential impacts. Proponents and developed countries [where the mining companies reside] need to support and fund a transparent process to assisting developing countries monitor and regulate and marine mining.
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This page is very much a work in progress, much of the information about deep sea mining is hidden away in corporate documents, copyrighted academic articles and grey literature. Hopefully over time we can make more available here – if you have information you can share please contact the editor