Conservation and restoration in the context of deep-seabed mining

DEEP REST is a BiodivRestore European project that gathered natural and social scientists from 8 countries to investigate polymetallic nodule fields in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) and hydrothermal vents on the northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge (nMAR) as ecosystems threatened by seabed mining. DEEP REST research enhanced our knowledge on 1) the faunal and functional diversity of these ecosystems and their interconnections, which is fundamental to inform protection and preservation, including conservation decisions, 2) potential restoration actions, including passive (e.g., protection after impact) or active restoration (e.g., substratum deployment, transplants) actions that can be placed within the framework of the mitigation hierarchy and 3) stakeholder perspectives and governance issues related to deep-sea mining. The recommendations and insights presented in this document are based on the results of DEEP REST research and the integration of many years of exploration and experimentation initiated before the start of this project.