Within the JPI Oceans call ‘Ecological Aspects of Deep-Sea Mining’, 1.4 million euros have been allocated to researchers from NIOZ, Utrecht University, Naturalis, and TU Delft to conduct research within the international ‘MiningImpact3’ consortium on the environmental effects of deep-sea mining. NWO has coordinated the Dutch contribution on behalf of four ministries (IenW, LVVN, EZK, BuZa) that contributed to this call.
The project ‘MiningImpact3’, coordinated by Dr. Sabine Gollner (NIOZ), was selected as part of the third phase of the research program on the impacts of deep-sea mining. With an allocation of 1,455,643 euros, further knowledge can be developed about deep-sea ecosystems and the potential consequences of mining activities. The project will focus not only on polymetallic nodules, small stones on the seabed that can contain valuable metals, but also on massive sulfides, large metal accumulations that form around underwater volcanoes on the seabed. The data collected during new expeditions will be combined with existing data to gain more insight into these unique environments.
Financing
In total, the project will involve 9 million euros, of which approximately 5.7 million euros come from national funders. NWO is not the only contributor to financing the research on deep-sea mining. In addition to the JPI Oceans secretariat, which organized and executed the call, other funders from many other countries also helped. The following parties also participated:
- Federal Science Policy (BELSPO) from Belgium
- German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) from Germany
- Ministry of Universities and Research (MUR) from Italy
- Research Council of Norway (RCN)
- National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) from Poland
- Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) from the United Kingdom
Curious about Dr. Sabine Gollners public summary? Read it below.
Public Summary
MiningImpact is an international research project investigating the environmental impacts of future deep-sea mining, focusing on manganese nodules in the Pacific Ocean and massive sulfides in the Atlantic Ocean. The third phase investigates changes in environmental factors, biodiversity, and ecosystem functions over space and time, including the long-term effects of test mining from 2021. Dutch researchers from NIOZ, Utrecht University, Naturalis, and TU Delft study biodiversity, plume dispersion, food web changes, recovery options, and governance frameworks. The results support regulations and management measures for deep-sea mining. Public engagement through exhibitions and art-science collaborations ensures transparency about environmental risks and knowledge gaps.