Dutch partners within the international MiningImpact3 consortium have received a EUR 1.4 million grant to study the long-term ecosystem impacts of deepsea mining, as well as its legal and technological aspects. The Dutch collaboration is coordinated by marine biologist Sabine Gollner of the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) and includes researchers from NIOZ, Utrecht University, Naturalis and TU Delft.
MiningImpact3 is an international research project investigating the environmental impacts of possible future deepsea mining. Coordinated by Matthias Haeckel of Geomar (Germany), the project focuses on two deepsea ecosystems rich in metals that deepsea mining is interested in: polymetallic nodule fields in the Pacific Ocean and deposits of solid sulphide on the seabed in the Atlantic Ocean, as well as the overlying aquifers.
Also read: NIOZ: It is too early for commercial deepsea mining
Changes caused by deepsea mining
This third project phase (hence the name “MiningImpact3”) focuses on increasing knowledge of deepsea mining-induced changes in environment, biodiversity and ecosystem functions over time and space. Researchers will also assess the long-term effects of test mining carried out in polymetallic nodule fields in 2021. Results from the research should contribute to the development of tools for the management, regulation and governance of deepsea mining.
The Dutch contribution to the international project headed by NIOZ includes research on biodiversity on the seabed and in the water layers above it; developing models for the distribution of dust raised from the seabed during mining – so-called sediment plumes – and for changes in the food web after test mining.
Focus on transparency
The Dutch researchers will also explore options for post-deep sea mining recovery, and establish frameworks for the best available technology for this. In addition, they will investigate the international regulations surrounding deepsea mining in relation to other regulatory regimes in the Northeast Atlantic.
The project has an explicit focus on transparency, at a time of growing societal concerns about environmental risks. Therefore, the researchers will ensure that the scientific findings are also accessible to non-scientists, including through exhibitions and collaborations between science and art.
Also read: How TMC monitors the environmental impact of nodule collection trials
First mining application imminent
‘This funding is particularly crucial now,’ says Gollner. ‘Now that a first party has announced that in June 2025 it will apply to the International Seabed Authority for an exploitation contract. Through the MiningImpact3 project, we can independently gather scientific information on the long-term consequences of test mining, fill the gaps in our knowledge, and communicate clearly about the uncertainties and what we all still don’t know about deepsea mining.’
Also read: In pictures: Allseas concludes deepsea mining trial with 4500 tonnes of nodules
JPI Oceans funding
Funding for this project comes from the Joint Programming Initiative Healthy and Productive Seas and Oceans (JPI Oceans) call “Ecological Aspects of DeepSea Mining”. The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) is facilitating the Dutch contribution within this call on behalf of four ministries (Infrastructure and Water Management, Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature, Economic Affairs, and Foreign Affairs).
In total, the MiningImpact3 project received EUR 9 million, of which about EUR 5.7 million came from European national funders, including NWO.
Picture: A field of polymetallic nodules at the bottom of the deep sea. These nodules contain the metals of interest for deepsea mining (photo by Geomar).
