Interview: Assessing the Impact Of Mining the Deep-Sea Floor

Numerous companies are moving ahead swiftly with plans to mine some of the billions of tons of minerals — including copper, gold, and silver — found near hydrothermal vents on the seafloor. Two firms — Canada’s Nautilus Minerals and Australia’s Bluewater Metals — have stepped up exploration of underwater mountain ranges in the South Pacific, while China and Russia have expressed interest in mining the seabed below the Indian and Atlantic oceans. But marine biologist Cindy Lee Van Dover, who has done groundbreaking research on deep-sea vents, warns that without environmental safeguards, these unique marine ecosystems could be severely damaged. In an interview with Yale Environment 360, Van Dover says it is critical that international agencies and companies establish environmentally sound mining practices before deep-sea exploitation begins. But time is short, and Van Dover says she is continually surprised by how quickly deep-sea mining is developing. “When I heard in 2005 that people were serious about wanting to mine hydrothermal vents, I just laughed,” said Van Dover. “Those of us in the biological community just didn’t think mining was going to happen for decades.”

Read the interview