Five reasons to take the precautionary approach to deep sea exploitation

Bisson, Kelsey; McMonagle, Helena; Iglesias, Ilysa S.; Halfter, Svenja; Gallo, Natalya D.

doi:10.1038/s43247-023-00823-4

Cited by 9 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…First, improving recovery estimates of the geochemical and biological components in the model would be beneficial to account for the magnitude of the disturbance in the recovery estimates. Even if the pelagic realm remains more poorly studied than seafloor ecosystems (Bisson et al, 2023; Robison 2004), broadening impact estimates to account for water column impacts and including other groups of organisms, such as micro-organisms (Herndl and Reinthaler 2013) and fishes (Drazen et al, 2020), would allow for more holistic estimation of impacts. Similarly, although our method expands the time horizon of seabed mining impacts from acute to longer-term impacts by including recovery potential over one year, the approach does not include detailed information on the full interactions within the ecosystem.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Probabilistic ecological risk assessment for deep-sea mining: a Bayesian Network for Chatham Rise, SW Pacific Ocean

Kaikkonen,

Clark,

Leduc

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Increasing interest in seabed resource use in the ocean is introducing new pressures on deep-sea environments, the ecological impacts of which need to be evaluated carefully. The complexity of these ecosystems and the dearth of comprehensive data pose significant challenges to predicting potential impacts. In this study, we demonstrate the use of Bayesian Networks (BNs) as a modelling framework to address these challenges and enhance the development of robust quantitative predictions concerning the effects of human activities on deep-seafloor ecosystems. The approach consists of iterative model building with experts, and quantitative probability estimates of the relative decrease in abundance of different functional groups of benthos following seabed mining. The model is then used to evaluate two alternative seabed mining scenarios to identify the major sources of uncertainty associated with the mining impacts. By establishing causal connections between the pressures associated with potential mining activities and various components of the benthic ecosystem, our model offers an improved comprehension of potential impacts on the seafloor environment. We illustrate this approach using the example of potential phosphorite nodule mining on the Chatham Rise, offshore Aotearoa/New Zealand, SW Pacific Ocean, and examine ways to incorporate knowledge from both empirical data and expert assessments into quantitative risk assessments. We further discuss how ecological risk assessments can be constructed to better inform decision-making, using metrics relevant to both ecology and policy. The findings from this study highlight the valuable insights that BNs can provide in evaluating the potential impacts of human activities. However, continued research and data collection are crucial for refining and ground truthing these models and improving our understanding of the long-term consequences of deep-sea mining and other anthropogenic activities on marine ecosystems. By leveraging such tools, policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders can work together towards human activities in the deep sea that minimise ecological harm and ensure the conservation of these environments.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Probabilistic ecological risk assessment for deep-sea mining: a Bayesian Network for Chatham Rise, SW Pacific Ocean

Kaikkonen,

Clark,

Leduc

et al. 2023

Preprint

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“…Our robust finding of a commitment to worsening exposure of the mesopelagic (roughly, 200-1000 m depth and one of the largest habitats on Earth) to microplastics bound in biological aggregates this century is yet another example of an increasing set of risks facing this poorly understood ocean realm (Bisson et al 2023). It has been estimated that this region contains 50-90% of the global fish biomass, and is inhabited by species that are prey for higher trophic levels including commercially important species (Bisson et al 2023). Mesopelagic biota is furthermore important for the sequestration of carbon via biological mechanisms (Saba et al 2021) and may be particularly vulnerable to disturbance (Murawski et al 2023).…”

Section: A Commitment To Mesopelagic Microplastic Exposurementioning

confidence: 92%

Slow biological microplastics removal under ocean pollution phase-out trajectories

Azimrayat Andrews,

Kvale,

Hunt

2024

Environ. Res. Lett.

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Microplastics are ubiquitous in marine environments and can be incorporated into biological aggregates including marine snows and faecal pellets. These aggregates are suspected to be a major removal mechanism for microplastics from the surface ocean, transporting them to deeper levels and the seafloor as they sink and remineralise. However, simple budget calculations, observations, and model parameter testing suggest that aggregation might also lead to retention of microplastics in the upper ocean, sustaining contamination in biologically-productive environments. The ability of the biological microplastic sink to reduce water column contamination has relevance to the setting of ocean plastics pollution reduction targets, as are currently under negotiation by the International Negotiating Committee of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA). Here we apply 8 idealised global pollution reduction trajectories, from 1-100% per year, starting from the year 2026 and ending in the year 2100 to an Earth System Climate Model with a representation of ocean microplastics and their aggregation in biological particles. We find that the global ocean microplastic inventory and surface concentrations stabilize within this century for reduction rates exceeding 5% per year but the inventory does not substantially decrease under any trajectory. Furthermore, microplastics are retained by marine biology in the surface ocean, where concentrations stabilise to a non-zero value over decades. Lastly we find that irrespective of scenario, contamination of deeper ocean layers continues to increase for the duration of our simulations via the export of microplastics by biological aggregates. These results suggest that ambitious targets for pollution reduction exceeding 5\% per year will be required to progress the resolution of the UNEA to ``end plastic pollution'' in this century, and that ongoing microplastic contamination of the marine food web may be unavoidable.

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“…Most marine oils available commercially are present as triacylglycerols, ethyl esters, or phospholipids. Although the digestion and absorption mechanisms of triacylglycerols and phospholipids have been extensively studied, wax esters have generally been considered to be poorly digested in humans [1]. The consumption of fish rich in wax esters, when consumed in large quantities, has been reported to cause malabsorption with outbreaks of diarrhea, accompanied by stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting.…”

Section: Lipid Classes and Fatty Acid Compositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Deep-sea fishing has been proposed as a viable approach to support the growing food supply. The mesopelagic zone is believed to contain a substantial 1.8-16 billion metric tons of fish biomass, which constitutes approximately 50 to 90% of the total mass of fish on earth [1]. This area contains a variety of fish species, including bristlemouth fish and lanternfish, as well as other deep-sea creatures such as krill, crustaceans, squid, cephalopods, and gelatinous organisms like jellyfish [1,2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the Potential of Atlantic Mesopelagic Species Processed on Board Commercial Fishing Vessels as a Source of Dietary Lipids

Madina,

Grimaldo,

Grimsmo

et al. 2024

Foods

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This study investigates the use of untapped mesopelagic species as a source of long-chain polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids (LC n-3 PUFAs) to meet the growing demand. The challenges faced by commercial fishing vessels, such as varying catch rates and species distribution affecting lipid levels, are addressed. Marine oils were produced post-catch using thermal separation and enzymatic hydrolysis during four commercial cruises, screening approximately 20,000 kg of mixed mesopelagic species. Maurolicus muelleri and Benthosema glaciale were the dominant species in the catch, while krill was the primary bycatch. The lipid composition varied, with B. glaciale having a higher prevalence of wax esters, while triacylglycerols and phospholipids were more predominant in the other species. LC n-3 PUFAs ranged from 19% to 44% of lipids, with an average EPA + DHA content of 202 mg/g of oil. Both processing methods achieved oil recoveries of over 90%. Estimates indicate that the mesopelagic biomass in the Northeast Atlantic could supply annual recommended levels of EPA + DHA to 1.5 million people, promoting healthy heart and brain functions. These findings offer valuable insights for considering mesopelagic species as a potential source of dietary marine lipids, laying the groundwork for further research and innovation in processing and obtaining valuable compounds from such species.

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Five reasons to take the precautionary approach to deep sea exploitation

Cited by 9 publications

References 18 publications

Probabilistic ecological risk assessment for deep-sea mining: a Bayesian Network for Chatham Rise, SW Pacific Ocean

Probabilistic ecological risk assessment for deep-sea mining: a Bayesian Network for Chatham Rise, SW Pacific Ocean

Slow biological microplastics removal under ocean pollution phase-out trajectories

Exploring the Potential of Atlantic Mesopelagic Species Processed on Board Commercial Fishing Vessels as a Source of Dietary Lipids

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