Deep-sea mining (DSM) is a large-scale process for extracting mineral resources from the seabed and DSM may soon become a major human pressure on the seabed with potential impacts on the full water column.
The extent and duration of the environmental impacts caused by DSM are unknown, and a better understanding of ecosystem degradation, species loss and permanent biodiversity loss is required.
This workshop will focus on contaminant impacts and generate an ICES Viewpoint on the topic covering the following topics:
1. What is DSM, and what are likely to be the major contaminant-related impacts of DSM, and what are the consequences of these impacts?
2. What is required to develop DSM contaminant thresholds and biological effects tests for monitoring DSM?
3. What key uncertainties should a monitoring program address to safeguard a sensitive Deep-Sea marine environment?
