Central Idea

• The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is preparing to resume negotiations on deep sea mining, a process that involves extracting mineral deposits and metals from the ocean’s seabed.
• These negotiations have raised concerns over potential impacts on marine ecosystems and habitats, highlighting the need for regulations and environmental safeguards.

What is Deep Sea Mining?

• Deep sea mining is a process that involves extracting mineral deposits and metals from the seabed.
• These deposits are rich in materials such as nickel, rare earths, and cobalt, which are crucial for renewable energy technologies and everyday devices like cellphones and computers.
• Types of such Mining include-

1. Polymetallic Nodule Collection: Harvesting deposit-rich nodules from the ocean floor.
2. Seafloor Sulphide Mining: Extracting minerals from massive seafloor sulphide deposits.
3. Cobalt Crust Stripping: Removing cobalt crusts from rocks on the seabed.

Evolution of Mining Technology

• Vacuum Extraction: Companies exploring the use of massive pumps to vacuum materials from the seafloor.
• AI-Based Robotics: Developing artificial intelligence-based technology to teach deep-sea robots how to collect nodules.
• Advanced Machinery: Utilizing advanced machines to mine materials from underwater mountains and volcanoes.

Strategic Importance

• Depletion of Onshore Reserves: Deep sea mining offers access to strategically important resources as onshore reserves diminish.
• Growing Demand: Crucial minerals are in high demand due to the increasing reliance on renewable energy and technological advancements.
• Regulating Deep Sea Mining: Balancing Interests and Environmental Concerns

Regulating Deep Sea Mining: Balancing Interests and Environmental Concerns

• The governance of deep sea mining is currently guided by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
• This framework aims to protect marine environments, facilitate economic benefits sharing, and support scientific research.

UNCLOS and Exploration Licenses

• Maritime Territory Management: Countries govern their exclusive economic zones, while the high seas fall under UNCLOS jurisdiction.
• “Common Heritage of Mankind”: The seabed and its mineral resources are considered global assets, requiring responsible management.
• Exploration Partnerships: Mining companies collaborate with countries to secure exploration licenses, with focus in the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone.

Pressure to Establish Regulations

• Nauru’s Application: In 2021, Nauru and Nauru Ocean Resources Inc. applied to exploit minerals, triggering a clause that requires the International Seabed Authority (ISA) to establish regulations by July 2023.
• Environmental Concerns: Urgency to address potential ecosystem impacts and safeguard marine habitats fuels the need for comprehensive regulations.

Environmental Concerns

• Limited Knowledge: Only a small portion of the deep seabed has been explored, raising concerns about the potential damage to poorly understood marine ecosystems.
• Impacts on marine ecosystem: Noise, vibration, and light pollution, as well as leaks and spills of chemicals, pose risks to marine life.
• Sediment Plumes: Pumping slurry sediment back into the sea after extracting valuable materials can harm filter-feeding species and disrupt ecosystems.

Way Forward

• Calls for Moratorium: More than a dozen countries, including France, Germany, and Pacific Island nations, advocate for a ban or moratorium until environmental safeguards are in place.
• Research and Responsible Mining: Comprehensive research on deep-sea ecosystems is crucial to understand the potential implications of mining.
• Sustainable Practices: Encouraging responsible mining practices, including minimizing pollution, reducing ecosystem disturbance, and implementing proper waste management.

Conclusion

• Deep sea mining holds the potential to unlock valuable minerals critical for renewable energy and technological advancements.
• However, the process raises significant environmental concerns and requires robust regulations to balance resource extraction with the protection of fragile marine ecosystems.
• Continued research, responsible practices, and international cooperation are essential to ensure sustainable and environmentally conscious deep-sea mining operations.

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now