Long-term impact and biological recovery in a deep-sea mining track

Deep-sea polymetallic nodule mining is in the exploration phase at present with some groups proposing a move towards extraction within years<sup>1</sup>. Management of this industry requires evidence of the long-term effects on deep-sea ecosystems<sup>2</sup>, but the ability of seafloor ecosystems to recover from impacts over decadal scales is poorly understood<sup>3</sup>. Here we show that, four decades after a test mining experiment that removed nodules, the biological impacts in many groups of organisms are persistent, although populations of several organisms, including sediment macrofauna, mobile deposit feeders and even large-sized sessile fauna, have begun to re-establish despite persistent physical changes at the seafloor. We also reveal that areas affected by plumes from this small-scale test have limited detectable residual sedimentation impacts with some biological assemblages similar in abundance compared to control areas after 44 years. Although some aspects of the modern collector design may cause reduced physical impact compared to this test mining experiment, our results show that mining impacts in the abyssal ocean will be persistent over at least decadal timeframes and communities will remain altered in directly disturbed areas, despite some recolonization. The long-term effects seen in our study provide critical data for effective management of mining activities, if they occur, including minimizing direct impacts and setting aside an effective network of protected areas<sup>4,5</sup>.

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Publication Details

Journal
Nature
Published
2025-03-26
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-08921-3
Citations
46
Primary Topic
Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
78.95

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article

Long-term impact and biological recovery in a deep-sea mining track

Thomas Peacock, Adrian G. Glover, Loïc Van Audenhaege, Tim Le Bas et al.
46 citations
Nature
Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
78.95
article

Long-term impact and biological recovery in a deep-sea mining track

Thomas Peacock, Adrian G. Glover, Loïc Van Audenhaege, Tim Le Bas, Dmitry Aleynik, Sabena Blackbird, H.L.J. Grant, Daniel O. B. Jones, L. Norman, Corie M. B. Boolukos, Bethany F. M. Fleming, Catherine Wardell, Eva C. D. Stewart, Tracy M Shimmield, Erik Simon‐Lledó, Jon Copley, Guadalupe Bribiesca‐Contreras, Andrew K. Sweetman, Lucas D. King, Andrew R. Gates, Bridget R. O’Malley, Mark G.J. Hartl, María Belén Arias, Rachel M. Jeffreys, Susan Evans, Veerle A.I. Huvenne, A Dale, P. Josso
article en
46 citations

Abstract

Deep-sea polymetallic nodule mining is in the exploration phase at present with some groups proposing a move towards extraction within years<sup>1</sup>. Management of this industry requires evidence of the long-term effects on deep-sea ecosystems<sup>2</sup>, but the ability of seafloor ecosystems to recover from impacts over decadal scales is poorly understood<sup>3</sup>. Here we show that, four decades after a test mining experiment that removed nodules, the biological impacts in many groups of organisms are persistent, although populations of several organisms, including sediment macrofauna, mobile deposit feeders and even large-sized sessile fauna, have begun to re-establish despite persistent physical changes at the seafloor. We also reveal that areas affected by plumes from this small-scale test have limited detectable residual sedimentation impacts with some biological assemblages similar in abundance compared to control areas after 44 years. Although some aspects of the modern collector design may cause reduced physical impact compared to this test mining experiment, our results show that mining impacts in the abyssal ocean will be persistent over at least decadal timeframes and communities will remain altered in directly disturbed areas, despite some recolonization. The long-term effects seen in our study provide critical data for effective management of mining activities, if they occur, including minimizing direct impacts and setting aside an effective network of protected areas<sup>4,5</sup>.

NatureVol. 642(8066)
Natural History Museum (GB), British Geological Survey (GB), University of Liverpool (GB), National Oceanography Centre (GB), Heriot-Watt University (GB), Institut Català de Ciències del Clima (ES), Institut de Ciències del Mar (ES), University of Southampton (GB), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US), Scottish Association For Marine Science (GB), Eckerd College (US)
Sight Research UK, Natural Environment Research Council
Life below water
Openalex Percentile: Top 0%
Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
78.95
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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