Seabed mining: International Seabed Authority environmental management plan for the Clarion–Clipperton Zone. A partnership approach

Lodge, Michael W.; Johnson, David E.; Gurun, Gwénaëlle Le; Wengler, Markus; Weaver, P. P. E.; Gunn, Vikki

doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2014.04.006

Cited by 167 publications

(99 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Taken together, insights into microbial responses to disturbances, such as those presented in the present article, will likely improve predictions of ecosystem responses from deep‐sea mining impacts, which are critical for marine management and spatial‐planning concerning commercial exploitation of deep‐sea metal deposits (Lodge et al ., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Habitat filtering of bacterioplankton communities above polymetallic nodule fields and sediments in the Clarion‐Clipperton zone of the Pacific Ocean

Lindh

Maillot

Smith

et al. 2018

Environ Microbiol Rep

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Deep-sea mining of commercially valuable polymetallic nodule fields will generate a seabed sediment plume into the water column. Yet, the response of bacterioplankton communities, critical in regulating energy and matter fluxes in marine ecosystems, to such disturbances is unknown. Metacommunity theory, traditionally used in general ecology for macroorganisms, offers mechanistic understanding on the relative role of spatial differences compared with local environmental conditions (habitat filtering) for community assembly. We examined bacterioplankton metacommunities using 16S rRNA amplicons from the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) in the eastern Pacific Ocean and in global ocean transect samples to determine sensitivity of these assemblages to environmental perturbations. Habitat filtering was the main assembly mechanism of bacterioplankton community composition in the epi- and mesopelagic waters of the CCZ and the Tara Oceans transect. Bathy- and abyssopelagic bacterioplankton assemblages were mainly assembled by undetermined metacommunity types or neutral and dispersal-driven patch-dynamics for the CCZ and the Malaspina transect. Environmental disturbances may alter the structure of upper-ocean microbial assemblages, with potentially even more substantial, yet unknown, impact on deep-sea communities. Predicting such responses in bacterioplankton assemblage dynamics can improve our understanding of microbially-mediated regulation of ecosystem services in the abyssal seabed likely to be exploited by future deep-sea mining operations.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Habitat filtering of bacterioplankton communities above polymetallic nodule fields and sediments in the Clarion‐Clipperton zone of the Pacific Ocean

Lindh

Maillot

Smith

et al. 2018

Environ Microbiol Rep

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“…Lodge et al 2014;Schrope 2013). At the same time, fortunately, there is a growing realisation that the habitat where such activities are going to be pursued, and its communities, are-although vastly understudiedvery fragile and irreplaceable.…”

Section: Prologuementioning

confidence: 99%

Meiobenthos in the Sub-equatorial Pacific Abyss

Radziejewska¹

2014

SpringerBriefs in Earth System Sciences

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“…Environmental legislation should reflect modern environmental conservation practices by defining: (1) clear environmental goals and objectives, (2) the framework for environmental assessment and monitoring, (3) particular habitats or species that should be protected, and (4) the boundaries of areas designated for spatial management. Networks of protected areas (CBD Decision IX/20, Annex II) that capture 30-50% of the area (and representative habitats) within a region (Lodge et al, 2014), that consider cumulative impacts of sectoral activities and climate change in their design, and that ensure ecosystem services are not interrupted, are a key component of regional environmental management plans. In Trinidad and Tobago, there is presently no environmental legislation to accompany the expansion of deepwater exploration and exploitation of oil and gas, leaving known and unknown communities vulnerable.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of Methane-Seep Communities in a Deep-Sea Area Designated for Oil and Natural Gas Exploitation Off Trinidad and Tobago

et al. 2017

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Exploration of the deep ocean (>200 m) is taking on added importance as human development encroaches. Despite increasing oil and natural gas exploration and exploitation, the deep ocean of Trinidad and Tobago is almost entirely unknown. The only scientific team to image the deep seafloor within the Trinidad and Tobago Exclusive Economic Zone was from IFREMER in the 1980s. That exploration led to the discovery of the El Pilar methane seeps and associated chemosynthetic communities on the accretionary prism to the east of Trinidad and Tobago. In 2014, the E/V Nautilus, in collaboration with local scientists, visited two previously sampled as well as two unexplored areas of the El Pilar site between 998 and 1,629 m depth using remotely operated vehicles. Eighty-three megafaunal morphospecies from extensive chemosynthetic communities surrounding active methane seepage were observed at four sites. These communities were dominated by megafaunal invertebrates including mussels (Bathymodiolus childressi), shrimp (Alvinocaris cf. muricola), Lamellibrachia sp. 2 tubeworms, and Pachycara caribbaeum. Adjacent to areas of active seepage was an ecotone of suspension feeders including Haplosclerida sponges, stylasterids and Neovermilia serpulids on authigenic carbonates. Beyond this were large Bathymodiolus shell middens. Finally there was either a zone of sparse octocorals and other nonchemosynthetic species likely benefiting from the carbonate substratum and enriched production within the seep habitat, or sedimented inactive areas. This paper highlights these ecologically significant areas and increases the knowledge of the biodiversity of the Trinidad and Tobago deep ocean. Because methane seepage and chemosynthetic communities are related to the presence of extractable oil and gas resources, development of best practices for the conservation of biodiversity in Trinidad and Tobago waters within the context of energy extraction is critical. Potential impacts on benthic communities during oil and gas activities will likely be long lasting and include physical disturbance during drilling among others. Recommendations for the stewardship of Amon et al.Seep Communities Off Trinidad and Tobago these widespread habitats include: (1) seeking international cooperation; (2) holding wider stakeholder discussions; (3) adopting stringent environmental regulations; and (4) increasing deep-sea research to gather crucial baseline data in order to conduct appropriate marine spatial planning with the creation of marine protected areas.

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Seabed mining: International Seabed Authority environmental management plan for the Clarion–Clipperton Zone. A partnership approach

Cited by 167 publications

References 2 publications

Habitat filtering of bacterioplankton communities above polymetallic nodule fields and sediments in the Clarion‐Clipperton zone of the Pacific Ocean

Habitat filtering of bacterioplankton communities above polymetallic nodule fields and sediments in the Clarion‐Clipperton zone of the Pacific Ocean

Meiobenthos in the Sub-equatorial Pacific Abyss

Characterization of Methane-Seep Communities in a Deep-Sea Area Designated for Oil and Natural Gas Exploitation Off Trinidad and Tobago

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