Commercial-scale deep seabed mining in international waters could be permitted for the first time later this year.
Scientists from the University of Exeter and Greenpeace Research Laboratories believe the process could be a “significant risk to ocean ecosystems” with “long-lasting and irreversible” effects.
The study, which focuses on cetaceans such as whales, dolphins and porpoises, finds that urgent research is needed to assess potential impacts.
“Like many animals, cetaceans are already facing multiple stressors, including climate change,” said Dr Kirsten Thompson, of the University of Exeter.
“Very little research has examined the impact that deep-sea minerals extraction would have on cetaceans. Cetaceans are highly sensitive to sound, so noise from mining is a particular concern.”
The sounds expected to be produced by mining operations, including from remotely operated vehicles on the seafloor, are likely to overlap with the frequencies at which...