Deep sea mining for clean energy resources may harm whale habitats

The push for clean energy may come with an unexpected environmental cost: the potential disruption of whale and other marine mammal habitats. A recent study by Greenpeace has raised concerns about the impact on these species from the deep sea mining of resources critical for building renewable power infrastructure.

Polymetallic nodules residing on the ocean floor are rich in metals like nickel, cobalt and manganese — resources which are vital for producing components crucial to renewable energy systems. However, some researchers believe the extraction of these nodules could come at a significant environmental cost.

The Greenpeace study focused on a proposed deep sea mining area off the coast of Norway, one of the first countries to approve the practice earlier in 2024. The researchers found that the habitats of marine species such as sperm whales, orcas and dolphins could be disrupted by the noise and light pollution generated by mining activities.

“These are striking results,” Kirsten Young, lead scientist of the expedition, said. “We’ve surveyed near to a steep shelf on the ocean floor, and were expecting acoustic detections, but not on this scale. We’ve been hearing sperm whales on the hydrophone all day. At least one of the groups were in the middle of foraging, and it is clear that this area is of great importance to the sperm whales in this part of the North Atlantic.”

Norway’s Minister for Petroleum and Energy Terje Aasland has defended the decision to allow deep sea mining, arguing that the resources needed for the green transition can be extracted sustainably from Norwegian waters. Under the new regulations, mining companies must submit detailed proposals to the government before any drilling operations can begin.

“Today, we are almost dependent on Russia and China and we have to diversify the global supply chain production of minerals around the world,” Aasland said. “We have been looking into the seabed minerals opportunity for a long time. We have a really reliable tradition on how we use the resources in the Norwegian continental shelf. We do it sustainably and we do it step by step.”

Environmental organizations like Greenpeace remain skeptical. They warn that the noise and light pollution from deep sea mining could have devastating effects on marine life, particularly for species that rely on echolocation and other sensitive sensory systems.

“These are unique, untouched nature areas, which are home to rich wildlife and new-to-science species,” Haldis Tjeldflaat Helle, a campaigner with Greenpeace, said. “Norway is plunging into a new industry, without a clear understanding of the potential impacts of deep sea mining, both in the deep sea and further up in the water column. The Norwegian push for deep sea mining is anti-science, irresponsible and the opposite of what we need in the midst of an ongoing crisis for both the ocean and the climate.”

The Norway Institute of Marine Research has also expressed caution, estimating that another five to ten years of research is needed to fully understand the impacts of deep sea mining on marine species before the industry can proceed.