Within the JPI Oceans call ‘Ecological Aspects of Deep-Sea Mining’, 1.4 million euros has been granted to researchers from NIOZ, Utrecht University, Naturalis, and TU Delft to research the environmental impacts of deep-sea mining within the international ‘MiningImpact3’ consortium. NWO has launched the Dutch contribution on behalf of four ministries (IenW, LVVN, EZK, BuZa) that contributed to this call.

The ‘MiningImpact3’ project, 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 the award of 1,455,643 euros, further knowledge can be developed about deep-sea ecosystems and the potential consequences of mining activities. The project will not only focus on polymetallic nodules, small stones on the seabed that may contain valuable metals, but also on massive sulfides, large metal deposits forming around underwater volcanoes on the seabed. Data collected on new expeditions will be combined with existing data to gain more insight into these unique environments.

Funding

In total, the project will encompass 9 million euros, of which approximately 5.7 million euros from National funders. NWO is not the only contributor to funding research into deep-sea mining. Alongside the JPI Oceans secretariat, which organized and executed the call, other funders from many countries also contributed. The following parties 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 and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) from the United Kingdom

Curious about the public summary by Dr. Sabine Gollner? 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 examines changes in environmental factors, biodiversity, and ecosystem functions in 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, changes in food webs, 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.