Growing Threat to Marine Predators
Deep-sea mining operations could push already endangered sharks and rays closer to extinction, according to reports from marine scientists. The rapid expansion of seabed mining exploration, driven by global demand for minerals like cobalt and nickel used in batteries and renewable energy infrastructure, poses unprecedented threats to deep-sea ecosystems that remain poorly understood.
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Sources indicate that the International Seabed Authority, the UN body regulating high seas mining, has granted exploration contracts covering over a million square kilometers of ocean floor. This area reportedly exceeds all land-based mining operations combined by more than 14 times, representing what analysts suggest is one of the largest potential industrial expansions into previously untouched environments.
Critical Habitats at Risk
The report states that three primary mining targets—polymetallic nodules on abyssal plains, cobalt-rich crusts on seamounts, and sulfide deposits near hydrothermal vents—coincide with essential habitats for chondrichthyans (sharks, rays, and their relatives). Recent discoveries have revealed that some of these areas, particularly hydrothermal vents, serve as previously unknown nurseries for deep-sea sharks and skates.
According to the analysis published in scientific literature, approximately 30 species of sharks, rays, and chimeras have significant range overlap with proposed mining zones in international waters. Disturbingly, nearly two-thirds of these species are already threatened with extinction, raising concerns about their ability to withstand additional industrial pressure amid ongoing ecosystem challenges.
Dual Pathways of Impact
Scientists identify two primary mechanisms through which mining could harm these vulnerable species. The first involves direct seafloor disturbance, where collector vehicles scrape or suction mineral resources from the seabed, destroying habitat structures that species depend on for reproduction and shelter. For instance, the chocolate skate faces particularly high vulnerability, with reports indicating 75% of its depth range overlaps with planned mining areas.
The second threat comes from sediment plumes created by mining operations. These plumes, which can spread hundreds of kilometers and linger for months, could clog the feeding structures of filter-feeding species like whale sharks and devil rays. The report states that even mobile predators like the cookiecutter shark, which migrates vertically through the water column, could encounter these plumes during daily movements, potentially reducing foraging success.
Global Scale of Overlap
The geographic overlap between proposed mining zones and shark habitats appears to be widespread, with no region completely spared. The Clarion-Clipperton Zone in the Pacific Ocean, a focal point for polymetallic nodule extraction, coincides with ranges of highly migratory species like the whale shark. Meanwhile, seamounts targeted for cobalt-rich crust extraction often serve as essential habitats for benthic and egg-laying species.
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Recent discoveries have complicated the situation further, with hydrothermal vents—potential sites for sulfide mining—now known to serve as incubation areas for deep-sea skates. The exploration contracts granted by regulatory bodies cover these diverse ecosystems, creating what analysts suggest is a patchwork of threats across the global deep sea.
Regulatory Challenges and Proposed Solutions
The International Seabed Authority faces significant pressure from multiple directions as it works to establish mining regulations. Developing nations reportedly view seabed mineral access as essential for economic growth, while industrialized countries seek secure metal supplies for green technologies. This has created a regulatory environment where, according to sources, economic and political considerations often overshadow ecological caution.
Some mitigation measures are under consideration, including depth-based discharge strategies and area-based protections like the “Areas of Particular Environmental Interest” in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone. However, scientific assessments included in ISA documentation indicate these approaches involve trade-offs and may not adequately protect vulnerable species without better understanding of their distributions and life history requirements.
Scientific Community Urges Precaution
Marine scientists are reportedly advocating for a precautionary approach, emphasizing that deep-sea mining represents humanity’s test in managing global commons responsibly. Their recommendations, detailed in publications like this scientific analysis, include improved baseline monitoring of deep-sea predators, expanded protected areas near mining zones, and careful reconsideration of discharge plume management.
With many shark species already facing immense pressure from overfishing and climate change, adding industrial-scale deep-sea mining without adequate safeguards could reportedly push some populations past recovery thresholds. As noted in regulatory discussions, the race for deep-sea metals may power renewable energy transitions, but could come at the expense of species that have shaped marine ecosystems for hundreds of millions of years, according to conservation experts monitoring these industry developments and market trends.
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