Mineral and hydrocarbon extraction
The geology of the Hatton–Rockall area has been explored for oil and gas (the Hatton–Rockall Plateau); currently there is no extraction because of an inability to fly helicopters to the area. Deep-sea mineral extraction is also being considered, but thus far the mining interests have primarily focused on areas further south in the Atlantic and in the Norwegian Sea. The ISA is considering approaches for environmental impact assessments.
Fishing
There is increasing interest in exploring options for harvesting mesopelagic fish and plankton. Studies in the North Atlantic indicate that the biomass of mesopelagic species is particularly high in the Irminger Sea.
