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Tiny animals found living inside deep
Oceanographic Magazine • • science
Key Points:
- Scientists discovered tiny, unique animal communities living inside cracks and pores of polymetallic nodules on the deep-sea floor, which are targeted for mining, raising environmental concerns.
- The study examined 244 nodules from the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, finding an average of 17 animals per nodule, with some nodules hosting up to 245 individuals, highlighting the biodiversity supported by these slow-growing formations.
- Researchers warn that commercial deep-sea mining could cause irreversible loss of this unique and largely undescribed biodiversity, though the potential for global extinctions remains unclear.
- The US subsidiary of the Metals Company has applied for an exploration and commercial mining permit, with NOAA indicating compliance and a potential permit issuance by early 2027, bypassing the slower UN-backed International Seabed Authority.
- This move aligns with US efforts to counter China’s dominance in critical metals, following a Trump-era executive order and a new NOAA rule, while the ISA continues to delay establishing formal commercial mining regulations.
