Marine Animal Welfare

Marine Welfare: Deep-Sea Mining and Habitat Destruction

Proposed deep-sea mining operations targeting polymetallic nodules threaten unique deep-sea ecosystems that support diverse animal communities with no capacity for recovery.

Key Facts

Deep-sea polymetallic nodule fields support diverse communities of sponges, corals, worms and crustaceans
Mining operations use large collector vehicles that physically destroy habitat across vast areas
Recovery of disturbed deep-sea areas may take centuries to millennia given slow reproduction rates
The International Seabed Authority (ISA) regulates deep-sea mining in international waters
Mining operators argue that deep-sea mining has lower biodiversity impact than land mining

Welfare Considerations

Deep-sea mining destroys the habitat of diverse animal communities including animals with uncertain but possible sentience. The destruction is effectively permanent on human timescales. Beyond direct habitat destruction, mining sediment plumes spread over vast areas, smothering animals far beyond the mining footprint. The welfare and ecological case for delaying deep-sea mining pending better understanding of ecosystem impacts is compelling.

What You Can Do

Support a moratorium on commercial deep-sea mining until ecological impacts are understood
Learn about the ecology of deep-sea nodule fields and the species they support
Advocate for the ISA to implement strong environmental protection standards
Donate to deep-sea conservation research organisations