Biodiversity loss from deep-sea mining
Van Dover, C.L.; Ardron, J.A.; Escobar, E.; Gianni, M.; Gjerde, K.M.; Jaeckel, A.; Jones, D.O.B.; Levin, L.A.; Niner, H.J.; Pendleton, L.; Smith, C.R.; Thiele, T.; Turner, P.J.; Watling, L.; Weaver, P.P.E. (2017). Biodiversity loss from deep-sea mining. Nature Geoscience 10(7): 464-465. https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ngeo2983
In: Nature Geoscience. Nature Publishing Group: London. ISSN 1752-0894; e-ISSN 1752-0908, more
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| Authors | | Top |
- Van Dover, C.L.
- Ardron, J.A.
- Escobar, E.
- Gianni, M.
- Gjerde, K.M.
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- Jaeckel, A.
- Jones, D.O.B.
- Levin, L.A.
- Niner, H.J.
- Pendleton, L.
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- Smith, C.R.
- Thiele, T.
- Turner, P.J.
- Watling, L., more
- Weaver, P.P.E.
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| Abstract |
The emerging deep-sea mining industry is seen by some to be an engine for economic development in the maritime sector. The International Seabed Authority — the body that regulates mining activities on the seabed beyond national jurisdiction — must also protect the marine environment from harmful effects that arise from mining. The International Seabed Authority is currently drafting a regulatory framework for deep-sea mining that includes measures for environmental protection. Responsible mining increasingly strives to work with no net loss of biodiversity. Financial and regulatory frameworks commonly require extractive industries to use a four-tier mitigation hierarchy to prevent biodiversity loss: in order of priority, biodiversity loss is to be avoided, minimized, remediated and — as a last resort — offset. We argue here that mining with no net loss of biodiversity using this mitigation hierarchy in the deep sea is an unattainable goal. |
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