JPI Oceans project investigates the environmental impact of deep sea mining

Mining Impact 2 involves the participation of 5 Portuguese teams

The deep sea is characterized by its great biodiversity, where several stones rich in iron, copper, nickel, lithium, gold, cobalt and rare minerals or manganese nodule deposits are also present. The new project of JPI Oceans, Mining Impact 2, aims to address the risks of mining in deep waters and especially the impacts it can cause on the environment, the sea and its ecosystem. For this purpose, it will carry out the scientific monitoring of an industrial intervention in manganese nodule deposits in the Clarion Clipperton Zone, in the Pacific Ocean. 

This project will support the successful research and results of the former Mining Impact 1 project (2013-2017), where two Portuguese teams were also involved. Mining Impact 2 will further study regional connectivity of species in the deep-sea and their resilience to impacts, and the integrated effects on ecosystem functions, such as the benthic food-web and biogeochemical processes. The findings of the project will be transmitted to the community and inform policymakers and regulators, contributing to the definition of regulatory standards for deep sea mining activities. The project will begin in August 2018 and run for 42 months.

Mining Impact 2 brings together 32 partners from 10 countries (Germany, Belgium, France, Holland, Italy, Jamaica, Norway, Poland, Portugal and the United Kingdom), with a total budget of 13.994,00 Mio €. Portugal will be represented by 5 teams from the following entities: CESAM - Center for Environment and Sea Studies; CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Center of Marine and Environmental Research; IMAR - IMAR Center of the University of the Azores; IPMA - Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere, IP; and UALG - University of Algarve, with a combined funding from FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology and DGPM - Directorate-General of Sea Policy.

More information here: jpi-oceans.eu