Seabed mining’s impacts in the water column have been under-studied, but are critical to determining its potential effect on the marine environment. Scientists are increasingly focusing on this suite of impacts to determine their scope and severity, making the topic a focus of recent articles and ongoing research. How best to utilize this emerging science in policy and decision-making is also an essential element of ensuring the effective protection of the marine environment.
In the second webinar of a series being organized by Pew and RESOLVE, a panel of scientific experts discussed seabed mining’s impacts in the water column. Jeff Drazen, University of Hawai’i at Manoa provided an overview of these impacts, as detailed in a recent article: “Midwater ecosystems must be considered when evaluating environmental risks of deep-sea mining.” In addition, Jesse van der Grient, University of Hawai’i at Manoa, and Steven Haddock, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute and University of California, Santa Cruz, presented on the possible effects of DSM on fisheries and in the bathypelagic. The webinar also provided an opportunity to hear how this kind of new information could inform decision-makers when considering proposed seabed mining activities, including reflections from Dr. Tomohiko Fukushima, Deep Ocean Resources Development, and Michelle Walker, Deputy Solicitor General, International Affairs Division, Attorney General's Chambers of Jamaica and chair of the ISA’s Legal and Technical Commission.
RESOLVE hosted the webinar on Thursday, 24 September 2020, from 18:00 – 19:30 EST [22:00 – 23:30 GMT / 08:00 – 09:30 AEST (on 25 September)].
Following the webinar, the following resources were shared:
Please note that in an effort to ensure wide participation of stakeholders in different time zones, the timing for future webinars will be staggered and sessions will be recorded.
Paul De Morgan
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