Eco-Safe Ridge Mining - Environmental risk studies towards sustainable seabed mineral mining on the Mid-Ocean Ridge in Norway
Informations
- Funding country
Norway- Acronym
- -
- URL
- -
- Start date
- 1/1/2021
- End date
- 12/31/2025
- Budget
- 1,646,847 EUR
Fundings
| Name | Role | Start | End | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marine Resources and the Environment (MARINFORSK) - call 2016 | Grant | - | - | 1,646,847 EUR |
Abstract
The Norwegian continental shelf hosts mineral resources of potential interest to an emerging deep-sea mining industry. Prospective mining sites are often associated with highly diverse, rare and vulnerable deep-sea habitats including hydrothermal vents and sponge grounds . We lack knowledge of the biodiversity, structure and function of those ecosystems to understand if mineral extraction can take place in a sustainable manner, avoiding serious harm to the environment. Eco-Safe Ridge Mining will assess potential environmental impacts of seabed mining and identify possible mitigation approaches. This collaboration between academia and the industry will focus on the deep-sea habitats of the Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge, where seafloor massive sulfides, produced by hydrothermal activity, are targeted for commercial mining due to their content in strategic metals. The project will carry out baseline ecological surveys on benthic habitats associated with and in the vicinity of seafloor massive sulphides, to characterise the pre-mining state and natural variability of the environment. We will also conduct targeted scientific research to predict the impact of habitat removal and plumes generated during mining operations on Ridge ecosystems. Research activities include quantitative characterisation of community biodiversity and structure, ecosystem functions, the possibility of recolonization of disturbed areas, and the effects of plumes on seabed biota. Eco-Safe Ridge Mining uses an environmental risk assessment framework, to ensure that the scientific data can inform the industry on developing mining procedures with minimal environmental footprint. The results can also be used by Norwegian authorities to establish regulations for deep-sea mining in areas under Norwegian jurisdiction.