Inspenet, July 2, 2023.
Marine mining threatens the biodiversity of the sea in Mexico. Revillagigedo National Park in the Mexican Sea is the largest marine protected area (MPA) in North America and was created in 2017 to protect its unique ecosystem, which is home to a variety of species, including sharks, manta rays, dolphins and humpback whales. .
A recent study found that the creation of the AMP did not negatively impact fishing in the area. In fact, the study found that the average fish catch actually increased by 4% after it was created. This suggests that the MPA was able to protect the ecosystem without harming the fishing industry.
However, it could face another threat due to the fact that the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone, an area of high biodiversity located hundreds of kilometers northwest of the national park, harbors seabed nodules that are rich in minerals such as cobalt, nickel and manganese. These minerals are in high demand for use in the technology industry.
High risk that marine mining will have a negative impact
The International Seabed Authority (ISA), in charge of regulating the exploration and exploitation of minerals in the seabed, has awarded 12 exploration contracts in the Clarión-Clipperton Fracture Zone.
However, a recent study found that 92% of the species that inhabit the area are unknown to science. This means that there is a high risk that marine mining could have a significant negative impact on the ecosystem.
One of the main concerns is that marine mining could generate plumes of sediment suspended in the water. These plumes could travel to Revillagigedo and other nearby areas, potentially harming marine life and disrupting the food chain. In addition, the chemicals used in this activity could also contaminate the water and harm the environment.
To protect the Revillagigedo and other marine ecosystems, strict regulations must be established. These should ban mining in areas of high biodiversity and require companies to carry out comprehensive environmental impact assessments before starting operations.
Marine mining, by impacting natural carbon storage processes, may accelerate climate change . The machines could release carbon stored in the sediments of the depths.
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