Experts raise red flags over proposal to mine valuable metals from ocean floor: 'These risks must urgently be assessed'
A Canadian firm's interest in mining a remote part of the Pacific Ocean's deep seafloor has drawn scrutiny from watchdogs who think the activity could harm marine life, including an endangered sperm whale, according to England's University of Exeter.
What's happening?
The Metals Co. intends to explore parts of the Clarion-Clipperton Zone in the Eastern Pacific in search of nodules that hold valuable metals such as copper, cobalt, nickel, and manganese, per Exeter and the International Seabed Authority.
Studies spotlighted by the university have found whales and dolphins in the zone.
"We know remarkably little about these ecosystems, which are hundreds of miles offshore and include very deep waters," Exeter's Kirsten Young said. "It's very hard to predict how seabed mining might affect these species and wider ecosystems, and these risks must urgently be assessed."
Why is the Exeter report important?
Underwater activity can have a direct, harmful impact on marine life. The Natural Resources Defense Council reported that powerful sonar blasts can be particularly devastating to whales, dolphins, and other species.
Young said that noise from mining could travel hundreds of miles, creating a threat to the creatures that rely on sound for communication.
"Chronic ocean noise can mask social and foraging communications and whales could be displaced from critical habitats. The behavior and impact of sediment plumes created by mining is also poorly understood but could affect food webs," the expert continued.
It's part of the consequences human activity has on land and sea. Biodiversity's greatest threat is habitat loss, for example. On land, that includes melting ice sheets and more acres being used for agriculture, according to the United Nations.
In the oceans, scientists are studying how warming waters are changing currents, which influences marine life. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that seas hold 91% of the excess heat that's being trapped by Earth. The extent to which ocean warming is harming marine animals is still being studied, but coral bleaching is a worrisome example linked to it.
What's being done to help?
The studies cited by Exeter shine an important spotlight on deep-sea mining and its ecosystem impacts.
Exploring ocean concerns, especially those caused by human activity, can help you make informed decisions about efforts, companies, and investments to support. Your voice as an advocate can contribute to policy changes that protect ecosystems where vulnerable species live.
It starts with contacting your representative. Big changes can start with local action. Even joining a litter cleanup in your hometown can keep plastic pollution from traveling to the ocean.
Should we be digging into the ground to find new energy sources?
Definitely
No way
As long as it's not near me
As long as it's clean energy
Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.
Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.Solve the daily Crossword
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Miami Herald
Migrating sea creature makes ‘extremely rare' appearance off Canada, video shows
A leatherback sea turtle made a remarkably rare appearance off the coast of Canada, thrilling onlookers and conservation officials. The marine creature — the largest turtle species in the world — was spotted near Langara Island, British Columbia, according to the Marine Education & Research Society (MERS), a Canadian conservation non-profit. A video posted by the group shows the rotund reptile swimming near the shore, with its head and carapace protruding above the waves. 'Oh my god,' a woman can be heard saying. 'This is the coolest thing I've ever seen.' The encounter is considered 'extremely rare.' Just 154 sightings have been made in British Columbia since 1931, according to MERS. 'They travel all the way from Indonesia to feed in B.C. waters,' the group said, adding that, 'They are the only sea turtle species that belongs in our waters and is astoundingly adapted to deal with cold water AND to slurp up jellyfish.' Leatherbacks are renowned for making the longest migrations of any turtle species, with some traveling an average of 7,400 miles round-trip between their breeding and feeding grounds, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The ocean giants, which can measure up to 6 feet and weigh up to 1,000 pounds, are classified as endangered. They face threats from fishing gear, habitat loss, vessel strikes and more, according to NOAA. Only about 5% of the Pacific population is estimated to still survive in the wild, Jackie Hildering, an education director at MERS, told CBC.
Business Wire
2 days ago
- Business Wire
Pramana Receives Health Canada Authorization for Digital Pathology Scanners
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pramana, an AI-enabled health tech company modernizing the pathology sector, today announced it has received Health Canada Medical Device Licenses for its flagship digital pathology scanners, the SpectralM and SpectralHT Cubiq systems. The approval authorizes Pramana to import, market, and sell its devices in Canada, expanding access to its advanced imaging and workflow solutions. Health Canada authorization is required to commercialize Class II medical devices and affirms the product's safety, effectiveness, and quality. The approval opens the door for Pramana to support Canadian hospitals, pathology labs, and research institutions, helping modernize diagnostic workflows with scalable, AI-powered digital pathology tools. This recognition marks a critical step in Pramana's international expansion, building on its growing regulatory footprint. 'Receiving Health Canada authorization is a major milestone in our commercialization strategy,' said Prasanth Perugupalli, Chief Product Officer at Pramana. 'It reflects the strength of our product development, quality, and regulatory readiness, and it opens the door to expanding access to our technology in a market known for strong clinical and academic institutions.' Pramana's scanners are designed to digitize a wide range of pathology slides, producing high-resolution whole-slide images with automated quality control and AI-powered decision support. The platform supports both FFPE tissue and Liquid Based Cytology (LBC) samples prepared using methods such as the ThinPrep® Pap test (Hologic) and BD SurePath™ (Becton Dickinson). Unlike most digital pathology systems focused solely on anatomic pathology, Pramana expands digital workflows to include hematopathology, microbiology, and cytology, delivering flexibility across all major slide types. 'Our research at the University of Toronto highlights the need for adaptable platforms that can manage these technical demands while still supporting routine histology and cytology workflows,' said Dr. Carlo Hojilla, Consultant Pathologist at the University of Toronto. 'Pramana's technology meets that standard, and its Health Canada authorization reflects both its clinical utility and the rigorous quality required for widespread adoption.' Prior to receiving Health Canada authorization, Pramana secured Medical Device Single Audit Program (MDSAP) certification, a requirement that validated its quality management system and streamlined regulatory access in Canada, the United States, Brazil, Australia, and Japan, highlighting Pramana's commitment to modernizing digital pathology worldwide. To discover how Pramana's whole-slide imaging solution can help healthcare organizations across Canada, visit About Pramana, Inc. Pramana is a health tech company transforming digital pathology with AI-powered imaging solutions that support seamless adoption across labs, health systems, and medical centers. Pramana's Spectral scanners deliver industry-leading image quality and unprecedented accuracy. Built-in AI algorithms and automated quality control streamline workflows, increase efficiency, and capture previously undetectable tissue features, empowering pathologists with the tools needed to improve clinical diagnostics and research. The company is headquartered in Cambridge, Mass. For more information, visit
Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Toronto Zoo welcomes wood bison calf born from artificial insemination
If you're visiting the Toronto Zoo, you may catch a peek of the freshest face at the site's Canadian domain. The zoo welcomed a female wood bison calf on June 30, who was born using an innovative single artificial insemination technique. The calf hasn't been named yet but zookeepers have been calling her 'little baby,' media co-ordinator Amy Baptista told the Star. 'This new calf represents a significant milestone for our continued conservation efforts with this iconic North American species,' the zoo wrote in a release Tuesday. Zoologists said the calf is strong, alert, in good health, bonding well with its mother and growing fast, which are all important when raising a wild animal in human care. The zoo has been involved in wood bison conservation since 1977 and partnered with the University of Saskatchewan and Parks Canada in 2007. It is important the calf is female, since female bison become pregnant and give birth and a herd can be rebuilt more efficiently if the population is skewed toward females temporarily, the release said. 'We continue to be home to one of a few reproductive physiology labs in North America that participate in biobanking wildlife species,' the release reads. 'This is the process of freezing living cells such as sperm and embryos, for the purpose of preserving genetic diversity for the future. Once frozen, these living cells are then held in Canada's Wildlife Cryobank at your Toronto Zoo.' Wood bison could previously be found across the boreal forests of northwestern Canada and Alaska but changes to their habitat use have created small, disconnected herds in British Columbia, Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Yukon. The species' status has been downgraded from 'endangered' to 'threatened' since 1988 but diseases, such as tuberculosis and brucellosis, still threaten the wild population. In 2016, three wood bison were unexpectedly found dead by Toronto Zoo staff, including one just a year and a half old and applauded as the zoo's first second-generation artificially inseminated bison. With files from Sammy Hudes Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
