As plans for the mining of mineral resources from the seabed are taking shape around the world, the International Seabed Authority (ISA), with input from the international community, is drafting the regulatory framework for their exploitation. A number of questions remain about the environmental impacts of seabed mining activities, and the European research project MiningImpact is seeking to close this knowledge gap and inform the work of the ISA in this regard. 

 

Following a detailed environmental baseline study in 2019, MiningImpact and German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) are planning to carry out an independent scientific environmental monitoring programme around the trial of a nodule collector system by the Belgian contractor DEME-GSR. While the research cruise will take place in spring 2021, this event offers the opportunity for information exchange and active engagement in the campaign.