Nice to be asked to join BBC Newscast today, to talk about deep sea mining alongside Justin Rowlatt. What's hidden down there, and do we really need it up here?
"The team found two #octopus nurseries affiliated with #hydrothermal springs during their first expedition in June. Six months later, scientists returned to the nurseries and confirmed they appear to be active year-round. They also observed several other new octopus species away from the hydrothermal springs."
#Mining has proven to be devastating on land; I can't image how it'd on the seabed.
Some people in the #Norway govt say they're taking a "precautionary approach to #DeepSeaMining"; but by opening the areas for exploration, they're simply ignoring scientific advise and neglecting the precautionary principle, which requires the exercise of caution when making decisions that may adversely affect nature, natural ecosystems and global biogeochemical cycles (Kibert, 2016).
I am often asked "what are some of the mysteries that we still don't understand about the deep ocean", because people are more interested in mysteries than the wonders we do know.
But it's just occurred to me that the one thing we REALLY don't know about the deep ocean is whether we can leave it alone.
Do we have the self-control to NOT mine, modify, meddle etc in the deep sea? And just for once, not spoil it and then regret it, like we have done with everything else?
GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST DEEP SEA MINING IN THE ARCTIC
The Norwegian government’s alarming new proposal to open up an area nearly the size of the United Kingdom and Ireland combined for exploration and exploitation of #DeepSea minerals would have severe repercussions for the environment and the people who depend on it. Together, we can stand up to them!
The area of the #ArcticOcean that #Norway wants to start #mining in is home to essential fish populations,
Scientists are baffled by a mysterious orb found two miles underwater.
Futurism spoke to researchers from the NOAA's ongoing Alaska Seascape 5 mission, the latest installment of the agency's efforts to fully map the Gulf of Alaska's seafloor.
The latest iteration of the EU's Critical Raw Materials Act establishes that 15% of domestic demand should be met by recycling by 2030, and 50% processed within the EU.
But the plenary text warned that "deep sea mining will most likely result in damage to ecosystems and a permanent loss of biodiversity," calling for a moratorium on deep-sea mining since the impact on marine ecosystems has not been researched.
Most squids reproduce by depositing egg cases on the seafloor or releasing eggs in a gelatinous mass that drifts in open water. #Brooding is common among bottom-dwelling octopuses, but we’ve only observed this behavior in three #squid species. Researchers suspect other deep-dwelling squids may also turn out to be brooders. #wildlife#ocean#DeepSea#pelagichttps://youtu.be/RUc-N4IOt4c
Octopuses are usually solitary and incubate their eggs for at least 5 years, sometimes up to 13 (!)
So it’s exciting that scientists have found “the largest aggregate of octopuses known anywhere in the world, deep-sea or not”, where octopuses are hatching their eggs in less than 2 years 🐙
While krill have been spotted thousands of feet deep on the #seafloor, they also come up to the surface of the water to feed on #algae that absorb #CarbonDioxide.