A primer for the Environmental Impact Assessment of mining at seafloor massive sulfide deposits

• Published in: Marine policy Vol. 42; pp. 198 - 209
• Main Authors: Collins, Patrick Colman, Croot, Peter, Carlsson, Jens, Colaço, Ana, Grehan, Anthony, Hyeong, Kiseong, Kennedy, Robert, Mohn, Christian, Smith, Samantha, Yamamoto, Hiroyuki, Rowden, Ashley
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2013
• Subjects: Deep-sea mining; Environmental Impact Assessment; Hydrothermal vent; Seafloor massive sulfide; Hydrothermal vent; Deep-sea mining; Environmental Impact Assessment; Seafloor massive sulfide
• ISSN: 0308-597X; 1872-9460
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpol.2013.01.020

Seafloor massive sulfides (SMS) contain commercially viable quantities of high grade ores, making them attractive prospect sites for marine mining. SMS deposits may also contain hydrothermal vent ecosystems populated by high conservation value vent-endemic species. Responsible environmental management of these resources is best achieved by the adoption of a precautionary approach. Part of this precautionary approach involves the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of exploration and exploitative activities at SMS deposits. The VentBase 2012 workshop provided a forum for stakeholders and scientists to discuss issues surrounding SMS exploration and exploitation. This forum recognised the requirement for a primer which would relate concepts underpinning EIA at SMS deposits. The purpose of this primer is to inform policy makers about EIA at SMS deposits in order to aid management decisions. The primer offers a basic introduction to SMS deposits and their associated ecology, and the basic requirements for EIA at SMS deposits; including initial data and information scoping, environmental survey, and ecological risk assessment. ► An introduction to seafloor massive sulfide deposits and their associated ecology. ► Introduction to the concepts that underpin EIA at seafloor massive sulfide deposits. ► Introduction to the basic requirements for EIA at seafloor massive sulfide deposits.