Relevance: GS-3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

Key phrases: Deep sea mining , polymetallic nodules , UN International Sea Bed Authority, Blue Economy ,seabed damage ,marine biology

Why in news?

• Admiral R. Hari Kumar called on Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences,Dr Jitendra Singh and discussed the modalities to deepen cooperation in "Deep Ocean Mission" which is to be the torchbearer of India's "Blue Economy".

What is Deep Sea Mining?

Deep-sea mining is the process of retrieving mineral deposits from the deep sea – the area of the ocean below 200 m which covers about 65% of the Earth’s surface.

• Depleting terrestrial deposits and rising demand for metals are stimulating interest in the deep sea, with commercial mining imminent.

Key highlights:

• India has been allotted a site of 75,000 square kilometres in the Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB) by the UN International Sea Bed Authority for exploitation of polymetallic nodules (rocks scattered on the seabed containing iron, manganese, nickel and cobalt ,estimated availability of 380 million metric tonnes in CIOB)
• A fraction of that reserve can meet the energy requirement of India for the next 100 years,
• India’s Exclusive Economic Zone spreads over 2.2 million square kilometres
• A manned submersible will be developed to carry three people to a depth of 6,000 metres in the ocean with a suite of scientific sensors and tools.
• An Integrated Mining System will be also developed for mining polymetallic nodules at those depths in the central Indian Ocean with future aim of the commercial exploitation as and when commercial exploitation code is evolved by the International Seabed Authority, an United Nations organization
• Developing Ocean Climate Change Advisory Services, based on observations and models to understand and provide future projections of important climate variables on seasonal to decadal time scales.
• To search for deep sea flora and fauna, including microbes, and studying ways to sustainably utilise them.
• To explore and identify potential sources of hydrothermal minerals that are sources of precious metals formed from the earth’s crust along the Indian Ocean mid-oceanic ridges.
• To study and prepare detailed engineering design for offshore Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) powered desalination plants.
• To groom experts in the field of ocean biology and engineering with an aim to translate research into industrial applications and product development through on-site business incubator facilities.

Concerns:

The following impacts of mining activities could affect its biodiversity and ecosystems:

• Disturbance of the seafloor: The scraping of the ocean floor by machines can alter or destroy deep-sea habitats, leading to the loss of species and fragmentation or loss of ecosystem structure and function. Many species living in the deep sea are endemic – meaning they do not occur anywhere else on the planet – and physical disturbances in just one mining site can possibly wipe out an entire species. This is one of the biggest potential impacts from deep-sea mining.
• Sediment plumes: Some forms of deep-sea mining will stir up fine sediments on the seafloor consisting of silt, clay and the remains of microorganisms, creating plumes of suspended particles. It is unclear how far these particles may disperse beyond the mining area, how long it would take for them to resettle on the seafloor, and to what extent they may affect ecosystems and species, for instance by smothering animals or harming filter-feeding species that depend on clear, clean water to feed, such as krill and whale sharks.
• Pollution: Species such as whales, tuna and sharks could be affected by noise, vibrations and light pollution caused by mining equipment and surface vessels, as well as potential leaks and spills of fuel and toxic products.

Pathway forward:

• Studies for understanding deep sea: To understand what species live in the deep sea, how they live, and how they could be affected by mining activities baseline studies are needed with more funds for training and educational programmes focused on improving our understanding of the deep sea.
• Environmental impact assessments: These assessments are also needed to ensure that the loss of biodiversity as a result of mining operations is properly accounted for in mining regulations set by authorities, well before any decision to mine is approved. The costs to the marine environment should be included in the financial and economic assessments conducted by mining companies.
• Mitigation: Current technologies may not be sufficient to avoid serious and lasting harm to the environment, including the loss of biodiversity. Mining operations strategies should be based on the avoidance of environmental impacts. This requires stringent and precautionary controls on the permissible extent and duration of mining operations to keep large parts of the seabed undisturbed.Minimising impacts should involve, among other things, improving mining equipment to reduce seafloor disturbance.
• Enhanced regulation: The ISA is operating with the dual mandate of promoting the development of deep-sea minerals whilst ensuring that this development is not harmful to the environment. This challenging and conflicting mandate will require improved oversight by the international community – including government representatives and the general public – to ensure that marine life is adequately protected.To avoid possible conflicts of interest due to the dual mandate of ISA, the organisation should consider divesting itself of some of its responsibilities, and placing them on independent entities.
• Circular economy: The repair, recycling and reuse of products should be encouraged to help reduce the demand for raw materials from the deep sea. Enhancing product design to make use of less or alternative materials can also reduce the demand.

Source: PIB

Mains Question

Q. Though ocean has abundance of untapped resources , any ocean activity which is not responsible and sustainable can do irrreparable damage. Critically analyse