The deep sea, and especially the abyss (>3000 m water depth) is one of the least explored environments on Earth, with most species still unknown to science. Yet, human activities such as fisheries and oil and gas exploration, are increasingly extending into deeper offshore waters due to rising demands for biological and mineral resources and advancements in technology. Therefore, it is crucial and timely to characterize the structure and functioning of deep-sea ecosystems before they are (further) impacted by human activities.

 

A lack of knowledge on pre-impact conditions or the environmental baseline hinders the accurate prediction of potential impacts before they occur and the evaluation of impacts after they take place. One potential future exploitation activity is the mining of polymetallic nodules, which are found in vast, high-grade reservoirs in the abyssal sediments of the Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCZ) in the Northeast Pacific.

 

This project investigates the multi-scale spatial and temporal variability in functional and taxonomic benthic biodiversity in the CCZ in relation to environmental conditions with a focus on the meiofauna, the numerically most important benthic animals in abyssal sediments. Among other aspects, ecological connectivity will be studied making use of morphological and molecular (metabarcoding) techniques. In addition to these environmental baseline studies, impacts of a nodule collector test will be examined to define suitable ecological indicators and thresholds for monitoring potential future deep-seabed mining operations. Project outcomes will inform environmental management at both the contract and regional scales, guiding potential mitigation strategies, and contribute to negotiations regarding regulations for deep-seabed mining in the Area Beyond National Jurisdiction.