Machines mining minerals in the deep ocean have been found to cause significant damage to life on the seabed, scientists carrying out the largest study of its kind say.
They found that the number of animals found in the tracks of the vehicles was reduced by 37% compared to untouched areas.
The researchers found more than 4,000 animals, 90% of which were new species, living on the seafloor in a remote area of the Pacific Ocean.
Vast amounts of critical minerals needed for green technologies could be locked in the deep ocean, but deep sea mining in international waters is very controversial and currently not permitted until more is known about the environmental impacts.
The research was conducted by scientists at the Natural History Museum in London, the UK National Oceanography Centre, and the University of Gothenburg at the request of deep sea mining company The Metals Company.
The team compared biodiversity two years before and two months after test mining that drove machines for 80km on the seafloor.
They specifically looked at animals 0.3mm – 2cm in size, such as worms, sea spiders, snails, and clams.
In the tracks of the vehicle, the number of animals fell by 37% and the diversity of species by 32%.
Lead author Eva Stewart, a PhD student at the Natural History Museum, emphasized the impact of sediment removal, where many seabed animals reside.
While mining operations pose immediate threats, pollution could also harm some species over time.
The research is published in the scientific journal Nature Ecology and Evolution, highlighting the need for stringent environmental assessments as the world considers deep-sea mining for valuable resources.
