As global industrialization advances and land-based resources decline, deep-sea resource development is becoming increasingly vital. The deep sea is rich in minerals such as polymetallic nodules, polymetallic sulfides, and cobalt-rich crust. However, deep-sea ecosystems and geochemical cycles can be severely impacted by extensive mineral mining. The extraction, collection, hoisting, washing, offshore processing, and transportation of minerals will impact the seabed, the water column, and the surface environment of the original marine area to varying degrees. Deep-sea ecosystems are particularly fragile, with scarce sources of matter and energy, making the impacts of deep-sea mining far more severe than anticipated until now. A comprehensive assessment of the ecological impacts associated with deep-sea mineral extraction is essential to ensure a sustainable and responsible development of deep-sea resources. Quantitative assessments indicate that sediment plumes generated by mining can disperse over 5-10 km from the operation site, while benthic community recovery may require several decades to centuries, underscoring the long-term ecological risks involved. These assessments lay the basis for effective systems and standards for sustainable mining, environmental monitoring, and governance. This review summarizes the current state of deep-sea mineral extraction and utilization, analyzes the ecological and environmental consequences of mining activities, and discusses emerging technologies and innovative approaches for recovering resources in the deep ocean. This study is aimed at serving as a scientific reference for researchers and policymakers, contributing to the development of international frameworks and standards for the sustainable exploitation of deep-sea minerals.
Liu et al. (Thu,) studied this question.
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