Posted on 28 Jun 2022
The European Commission is against deep-sea mining for nickel, cobalt, copper and manganese nodules because such operations could destroy the seabed, Kallanish reports.
Such a deep-sea mining ban in the exclusive economic zones of EU countries is contained within the EU Agenda on International Ocean Governance that is to be presented at the second United Nations Conference that is underway in Lisbon, Portugal. The conference continues through 1 July.
“We must take better care of our ocean,” says Virginijus Sinkevicius, commissioner for the environment, ocean and fisheries, in a statement.
The latest plan calls for the European Commission to “protect the seabed by prohibiting deep-sea mining which destroys the seabed and regulating, where necessary, the use of fishing gear that are most harmful to biodiversity,” it says. It strengthens the EC’s previous opposition to such mining.
It is among nine suggested actions needed for a safe, secure, clean, healthy and sustainably managed ocean, the EC says. The new agenda is part of the European Green Deal and strengthens the group’s position against deep-sea mining activities until such mining can be done with no damage to marine ecosystems. The plan also calls for designating 30% of ocean areas as protected areas by 2030.
Next year, the UN’s International Seabed Authority is expected to rule on whether deep-sea mining will be permitted and what rules might be put in place. Many countries are calling for a moratorium on such mining, but a number of mining companies are aggressively pursuing such plans, especially in the Pacific Ocean.
Source:Kallanish
