A journey into the unknown is highly recommendable for self-awareness and personal development, not so much for exploiting the ocean via deep-sea mining.

Even though the deep-sea floor is „the most abundant habitat type on Earth. And we know almost nothing about it.“ Conservation International is pointing out the environmental threats of this new underwater hype.

As Deep-sea mining is becoming technically available claims have been made: „Since 2001, the ISA has granted 26 of these contracts covering more than 1 million square kilometres [386,000 square miles] of the seabed. Eighteen of them were granted in the last four years“ (Opportunity, calamity in the balance amid plans to mine the deep sea by Molly Bergen). Dr Jack Kittinger, director of Conservation International’s Hawai‘i program, wants the International Seabed Authority to „establish regional networks of no-mining marine protected areas (MPAs) in all the places where they are licensing mining contracts — and we are urging them to do this before mining starts.“

Deep sea mining targeted by activists at London conference - London Mining Network
Deep-sea mining protest (London Mining Network – http://londonminingnetwork.org/2013/07/deep-sea-mining-targeted-by-activists-at-london-conference/)

A very honourable goal (details in Science), though we have to admit that we are not expecting companies to share Dr Jack Kittinger’s understanding of MPAs as „a win-win for both the planet and the reputation of the countries and companies involved in mining.“

The first deep-sea mining Solwara 1, which aims to mine the Bismark seabed for high-grade copper and gold, in Papua New Guinea by Nautilus Minerals, a Canadian company, stays highly controversial. Papua New Guineans are far from happy about the project and are calling for it to ban experimental deep-sea mining while the company is downplaying the risks.

Go to Impacts of deep-sea mining in Papua for an update on the situation.

8 Kommentare

  1. Way cool! Some very valid points! I appreciate you
    writing this post plus the rest of the site is very good.

  2. I blog quite often and I seriously appreciate your information. The article has truly peaked my interest.
    I’m going to bookmark your site and keep checking
    for new information about once per week. I opted in for your Feed
    as well.

  3. It has taken decades of public awareness programmes and educational literature to make people start to take responsibility for the environmental disasters that have been caused by lack of waste management and recycling.
    This situation needs a proper disposal of electronic equipments.
    The older cabinets and stands have great depth to accommodate the deep body of the electronic component.

  4. Pingback:Update on seabed mining | Devocean Pictures

  5. Today, I went to the beachfront with my kids.
    I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said „You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.“ She put the shell to her ear and screamed.
    There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear.
    She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is entirely off topic but I had to tell someone!

  6. I got this web site from my friend who informed me concerning
    this website and now this time I am browsing this web site
    and reading very informative articles or reviews here.

  7. A motivating discussion is definitely worth comment. There’s no doubt that that you should publish more about this topic, it might not be a taboo matter but usually people do not talk about such subjects. To the next! All the best!!

  8. I’m impressed, I must say. Seldom do I encounter a
    blog that’s both educative and interesting, and without a doubt, you have hit the nail on the head.

    The problem is something that not enough people are speaking intelligently about.
    I’m very happy that I stumbled across this during my search for something concerning this.

Kommentar verfassen