Environmental considerations for impact and preservation reference zones for deep-sea polymetallic nodule mining

Datos Bibliográficos

ID21521724
AutoresDaniel O B Jones (0000-0001-5218-1649, University of Southampton, autor de correspondencia), Jeff A Ardron, Jeff Ardron (University of Southampton), Ana Colaço (0000-0002-6462-5670, Universidade dos Açores), Jennifer M Durden (0000-0002-6529-9109, University of Southampton)
Año2020
Volumen118
Fecha de publicación2020-08-01
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaMarine Policy (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0308-597X • E-ISSN: 1872-9460
EditorialElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.marpol.2018.10.025
OpenAlexW2898675429
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas6
Referencias citadas37

Development of guidance for environmental management of the deep-sea mining industry is important as contractors plan to move from exploration to exploitation activities. Two priorities for environmental management are monitoring and mitigating the impacts and effects of activities. International regulation of deep-sea mining activities stipulates the creation of two types of zones for local monitoring within a claim, impact reference zones (IRZ) and preservation reference zones (PRZ). The approach used for allocating and assessing these zones will affect what impacts can be measured, and hence taken into account and managed. This paper recommends key considerations for establishing these reference zones for polymetallic nodule mining. We recommend that zones should be suitably large (Recommendation 1) and have sufficient separation (R2) to allow for repeat monitoring of representative impacted and control sites. Zones should be objectively defined following best-practice and statistically robust approaches (R3). This will include the designation of multiple PRZ and IRZ (R4) for each claim. PRZs should be representative of the mined area, and thus should contain high -quality resource (R5) but PRZs in other habitats could also be valuable (R6). Sediment plumes will influence design of PRZ and may need additional IRZ to monitor their effects (R7), which may extend beyond the boundaries of a claim (R8). The impacts of other expected changes should be taken into account (R9). Sharing PRZ design, placement, and monitoring could be considered amongst adjacent claims (R10). Monitoring should be independently verified to enhance public trust and stakeholder support (R11)

Business · Environmental impact assessment · Environmental Monitoring · Environmental planning · Environmental resource management · Mining engineering · Political science · Stakeholder · Computer Science · Environmental Science · Geochemistry and Elemental Analysis · Marine Biology and Ecology Research · Mercury impact and mitigation studies · Ecology · Geology

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