Global mining businesses have been now diverting towards deep sea exploration. This is possible due to modern-day equipment and digital tools making scanning the deep ocean easy. Expansion in underwater mining has created a concern for the scientist. It is believed that exploration in the deep sea could negatively impact the communities of the Jellyfish.
Scientists believe the deep sea is the home of various species. Jellyfish are the most common creatures found in the depths of the ocean. Ongoing exploration and mining in the deep sea could stress the Jellyfish species. As a result, they are forced to move from their natural habitat and look for another home.
Rising stress levels in the Jellyfish keep them away from repopulating their community. Over time, the population of the Jellyfish would decrease significantly, making the deep sea’s natural habitat unstable.
Mining deep seas also distorts the natural sediments found in the ocean. Aqua life would be challenging when the minerals required for the species’ survival are unavailable.
Commercial mining
Commercial mining is becoming a top concern for scientists as it puts deep sea organisms at risk of extinguishing. Tools and equipment used for deep sea mining stress out the species at the sea floor.
As commercial mining begins in large areas and more companies enter the deep-sea mining business, we will experience a loss of sea creatures in the long run. Disturbance associated with commercial mining would also take away the natural resources of the deep sea ocean necessary for the species’ survival.
Damage due to mining would take millions of years to recover the habitat. Mining operating pumps to collect the sediments of the seafloor will damage the ecosystem. Also, the dust would take several days to settle on the sea floor, making the habitat unpredictable for the sea creatures.
In the worst-case scenario, the sediment cloud would spread across the regions and extend to tens to hundreds of kilometers. The water column would stay affected and may cause a significant loss of the aqua life.
Ocean mid-water is vital for keeping the aqua life healthy. It is rich in carbon and minerals essential for the species’ survival. Mining would affect the species’ primary food source, causing them to leave their habitat. Many fish have already moved from their local habitat due to excessive fishing.
Marine life and increased vessel transportation in the region have displaced aquatic life. If we enter the deep sea where these creatures are struggling to survive, they would have a significant impact on the sea over time.
The shift of the aqua creatures from their local habitat would break the food chain. As a result, many species go extinct due to the non-availability of the necessary food.
On the other hand, the surface area near the sea would also be affected because many species on the earth depend on the creatures moving from the sea. Animals would experience the disconnection between the sea creatures who reach the sea soar during the season.
Food scarcity would make the seasonal species change direction and find a place in the remote islands. Therefore, the environment above the sea would also experience the change on a large scale over time. It would negatively impact the environment when the species no longer support the ecosystem.
Since stress jellyfish could not populate the region, the straightforward impact could be experienced within a few years. The deep sea is a large explored region. Thus, we are still determining the aftermath of deep-sea mining. It would create a worse situation for humankind and make our generation pay the price in the long run.
Moreover, the diverse micro bacterial life found in the ocean plays a significant role in keeping our environment stable. Corals consume the carbon found in the air and water to prevent it from getting into the atmosphere. As the seabed gets affected due to aggressive mining, the corals will vanish. It will change our atmosphere and increase the carbon level on the earth.
Non-availability of the necessary sediments further promotes health problems for sea creatures. It would reduce the immunity of the species and make them vulnerable to diseases. Rising stress will hurt the temperament of the species. They would not have a balanced life, hence causing them to lose their control and die eventually.
It is also believed that deep sea mining would increase the water temperature over time as the trapped gasses under the sea bed would get relieved. Once they enter the upper atmosphere, climate change is inevitable. Every year, the deposit of natural gasses in the atmosphere has a negative impact on life.
