Deep-sea mining waste threatens ocean food webs
Deep-sea mining waste could disrupt marine food webs, affecting fish and livelihoods.
Why it matters
- Study in Nature Communications warns deep-sea mining waste may starve zooplankton.
- Could impact larger fish like tuna, crucial for food and livelihoods.
- Study funded by mining company but conducted independently by University of Hawai‘i researchers.
By the numbers
- Waste particles are 10-100x less nutritious than natural ones.
- Over 900 scientists call for a deep-sea mining freeze.
The big picture
- Trump administration pushes mining, raising legal concerns.
- Alternatives like recycling could reduce mining needs.
What they're saying
- Study author: Current plans may cause severe impacts.
- Critics cite violations of international law.
Caveats
- Study funded by mining company; researchers claim independence.
- Waste impact at different depths unclear.
What’s next
- More research needed on mining risks.
- Calls for mining freeze until impacts understood.