UK Government launches new environmental science network on deep-sea mining

The UK Government has recently launched a new nationwide environmental science network, to collate scientific data, and carry out crucial research to gain a greater understanding concerning the environmental impact caused by deep-sea mining. 

Entrance for applicants to become part of the network and share their specialist knowledge and skills to help fully comprehend the consequences of deep-sea mining on our ecosystems is open. The network will bring together the UK’s environmental science expertise and shared globally; this will help the UK to ensure that the highest environmental standards on deep sea mining are achieved.

The new network will work in conjunction the UK government’s recent decision to back a moratorium on the granting of exploitation licences for deep sea mining projects by the International Seabed Authority (ISA).  The moratorium stipulates the UK will not support or sponsor licences unless enough scientific evidence is available concerning the impacts of each deep-sea mining project on marine ecosystems and stringent, enforceable environmental regulations have been developed and implemented by the ISA.

Commenting on the launch of the new network, Professor Daniel Jones from National Oceanography Centre commented ‘The new DSM Environmental Science Network is an excellent way to harness the skills of the UK community with expertise on environments of interest for deep-sea mining. It will enable the very active research being carried out by UK scientists to be communicated quickly and effectively to the government to support evidence-based decision making on this topic’.