Over 15 years of ocean science and conservation online
In the last month, two major players in the development of the deep-sea mining industry have put their plans on pause, calling for more research and less urgency in the race to the bottom. In November, the Cook Islands opted to extend their current exploration programs for an another five years, giving contractors and scientists … Read More “Norway and Cook Islands put their deep-sea mining plans on pause.” »
Migratory species depend on a vast, interconnected ocean. Disturbance in the deep-sea isn’t localized, it ripples across a globally-connected ocean and impacts made today may persist long after our species fades. Deep-sea mining is an industry in its infancy. As it has slowly matured towards commercial production, the major focus on the impacts of deep-sea … Read More “What we know we don’t know: impacts of deep-sea mining on whales, dolphins, sharks, turtles, and other migratory species.” »
I was invited by the Sierra Club National Marine Team to talk about the science and policy of deep-sea mining. Watch the panel, above!
I am extremely pleased to announce that a book I contributed to is now available for pre-order. Ocean: From Shore to Abyss, led by the legendary Dr. Asha de Vos, is a visual journey through the oceans, from sandy beaches to the deepest trenches. I, along with Tony Martin, Helen Scales, Peter Godfrey-Smith, and Rebecca … Read More “Ocean: From the Shore to the Abyss” »
Last Friday, I was invited by Congressman Case to brief congressional staffers on the environmental impacts of deep-sea mining alongside former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Ocean, Fisheries and Polar Affairs, Dr. Mahlet Mesfin, and native Hawaiian Elder, Solomon Pili Kahoʻohalahala. It was a complex and wide ranging discussion across a range of scientific, policy, and … Read More “9 Quick Questions About Deep-Sea Mining from My Congressional Briefing” »
“The health of the ocean is not beholden to the burn rate of private companies.” In May, right after the congressional hearing, I recorded an episode of the Marine Conservation Happy Hour talking about deep-sea mining, the current push from within the United States, and what that might mean for the International Seabed Authority. Earlier … Read More “Chatting about deep-sea mining with the Marine Conservation Happy Hour and Outside/In” »
Nodules, a new documentary by Clare Fieseler and Jason Jaacks takes a deep dive into polymetallic nodule mining and two recent discoveries that help reshape our understanding of the seafloor. Fieseler explores the discovery of dark oxygen production in nodule fields and the rediscovery of the world’s first deep-sea mining test site on the Blake … Read More “Nodules, Lost Mines, and Dark Oxygen: A new documentary on deep-sea mining asks important questions about the future of the industry.” »
Last month, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, who oversees seabed mineral mining within US water received an application from Impossible Metals to lease an area offshore of American Samoa for deep-sea mining trials. Unlike The Metals Company’s bid to mine the high seas under US license, the Federal Government had clear authority to issue … Read More “The Urgency is Artificial. My comment on the proposed permitting of deep-sea mining leases off American Samoa” »
This editorial originally appeared as my farewell letter when I ended my tenure at the Deep-sea Mining Observer. In light of recent news surrounding deep-sea mining, I am republishing it here for posterity. Four years ago, I took over the Deep-sea Mining Observer from my predecessor, Arlo Hemphill. Conceived by the Pew Charitable Trust in … Read More “Deep-sea Mining: It’s science fiction, until it isn’t.” »
It’s another podcast round-up! I was on how to Protect the Ocean talking about the most recent developments in deep-sea mining. Angelo and I caught up with Beth Pike of Marine Conservation Institute for Deep Day, to talk about marine protected areas, mining, and fishing. And over on my very silly ocean science Dungeons and … Read More “Deep-sea mining, marine protected areas, and the eternal struggle to open doors: This Week in Andrew (and Angelo) Doing Podcasts” »
