Experts and academics are invited to join a new science network
that will help to provide evidence on the environmental impact of
deep-sea mining.
It will help the UK to ensure the highest environmental standards
for deep sea mining,
protecting the world’s ocean and improve the conservation of
marine biodiversity.
The UK recently announced its support for a moratorium on the
granting of exploitation licences for deep sea mining.
The UK Government has today
(Monday 19 February) launched a new UK-based environmental
science network, to gather scientific data, and carry out
world-class research to help assess the environmental impacts of
deep-sea mining.
Eligible applicants can now
apply and share their
expertise to help fill in the current evidence gaps in
understanding the consequences of deep-sea mining on our
ecosystems. Bringing together the UK’s environmental science
expertise to share internationally will help the UK ensure that
the highest environmental standards are enforced on deep sea
mining.
The network will work alongside
the UK’s recent decision to support a moratorium on the
granting of exploitation licences for deep sea mining projects by
the International Seabed Authority (ISA).
The moratorium means the UK
will not sponsor or support licences until sufficient scientific
evidence is available to assess the impacts of deep-sea mining
activities on marine ecosystems and strong, enforceable
environmental regulations, standards and guidelines have been
developed and adopted by the ISA.
Marine Minister said:
“The UK is committed to
protecting the world's ocean and improving the conservation of
our marine ecosystems, so it’s important that we ensure the best
environmental standards are in place so damaging activities like
deep-sea mining are strongly regulated.
“This new network is a further
step in showing how we can use the scientific expertise that is
on offer to protect and improve the conservation of our marine
biodiversity.”
Professor Daniel Jones
from National Oceanography Centre
said:
“The new DSM Environmental
Science Network is an excellent way to harness the skills of the
UK community with expertise on environments of interest for
deep-sea mining. It will enable the very active research being
carried out by UK scientists to be communicated quickly and
effectively to the government to support evidence-based decision
making on this topic.”
Dr. Adrian Glover,
Merit Researcher at the Natural History Museum,
said:
“In joining the environmental
science network, we are pleased to continue our research on the
deep-sea to provide free, critical biodiversity data to everyone.
At this crucial time in our planet’s history, it is important all
activities that impact the natural world are informed by robust,
evidence-based science.”
The UK is committed to
protecting and driving ocean conservation. Over recent years, the
UK has:
- Committed to protecting at least 30% of the global ocean by
2030 through a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Other
Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs), and driven
this forward through UK-chaired Global Ocean
Alliance
- Supported developing countries to protect the marine
environment through projects to protect and restore habitats such
as mangroves, coral reefs and seagrasses through the £500 million
Blue Planet Fund
- Tackled the scourge of plastic pollution, recently consulting
on a ban on wet wipes containing plastic, as part of efforts to
eliminate all avoidable plastic waste by 2042.
- Designated the first three Highly Protected Marine areas in
English waters, enabling nature to fully recover by removing all
harmful activities including fishing, construction and dredging,
increasing marine biodiversity and supporting climate-resilient
ecosystems to thrive.
- Created a comprehensive network of marine protected areas, in
English waters there are 181 sites protecting 40% of our
seas.
- Recently implemented a byelaw that restricts bottom towed
fishing gear over rock and reef habitat in a further 13
MPAs.
