Deep-Sea Mining Poses Threat to Marine Biodiversity, Study Reveals

Sat Dec 06 2025 04:47:23 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

New research indicates that deep-sea mining activities can severely impact marine life, with a staggering 37% decrease in animal populations in mined areas compared to untouched seabeds.

A comprehensive study conducted by researchers from the Natural History Museum and others found that deep-sea mining significantly disrupts marine life, decreasing the number of seabed organisms by 37% in affected areas. The research, highlighting the urgent need for caution in proposed mining zones, underscores environmental concerns as the demand for seabed minerals grows.

Machines mining minerals in the deep ocean have been found to cause significant damage to life on the seabed, scientists carrying out the largest study of its kind say.

The number of animals found in the tracks of the vehicles was reduced by 37% compared to untouched areas, according to the scientists.

The researchers discovered more than 4,000 animals, 90% of which were new species, living on the seafloor in a remote area of the Pacific Ocean.

Vast amounts of critical minerals needed for green technologies could be locked in the deep ocean, but deep sea mining in international waters is very controversial and currently not permitted until more is known about the environmental impacts.

The research by scientists at the Natural History Museum in London, the UK National Oceanography Centre, and the University of Gothenburg was conducted at the request of deep sea mining company The Metals Company.

The team compared biodiversity two years before and two months after the test mining that drove machines for 80km on the seafloor.

They looked specifically at animals 0.3mm – 2cm in size, such as worms, sea spiders, snails, and clams.

In the tracks of the vehicle, the number of animals fell by 37% and the diversity of species by 32%.

Lead author Eva Stewart stated, The machine removes about the top five centimetres of sediment. That's where most of the animals live. So obviously, if you're removing the sediment, you're removing the animals in it too.

According to Dr Guadalupe Bribiesca-Contreras, pollution from mining could also lethally affect less resilient species, while some animals might migrate from the area.

The findings indicate that while the abundance of animals did not decrease significantly outside the direct tracks, the overall ecosystem was notably disturbed.

A company spokesperson expressed optimism regarding the findings, asserting that significant biodiversity impacts were localized rather than widespread. However, experts warn that the report's revelations emphasize the detrimental consequences of existing mining methods, calling for more restrained approaches to deep-sea mining.

With ongoing debates over the practice's ethics and practicality, this research serves as a crucial reminder of the need to balance mineral extraction with environmental preservation.