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Abstract

IntroductionThe technology to mine the ocean floor for valuable minerals such as copper, nickel, and cobalt is currently being developed. Scientists have warned repeatedly about potentially serious and irreversible environmental impacts from deep seabed mining (DSM), including but not limited to: removal and destruction of sensitive and poorly known seafloor habitats and species; metal-contaminated and fine-particle sediment plumes that can impact benthic and pelagic fauna; changes to water properties; and increases in noise and light1,2. What remains to be substantially debated are the social impacts of DSM.

Publication Date

2023-02-09

Publication Title

npj Ocean Sustainability

Volume

2

Issue

1

Acceptance Date

2023-01-22

Deposit Date

2023-06-11

Embargo Period

2023-11-08

Funding

A.J. received funding from the Australian Research Council’s DECRA scheme (grant number: DE190101081). H.J.N. received funding from United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), One Ocean Hub (Grant Ref: NE/S008950/1). Q.H. and H.H.D. gratefully acknowledge support from the Nippon Foundation Ocean Nexus Centre.

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