Deep Sea Mining: What Happened In 2024?

01/27/25 • 51 min

Deep sea mining: what happened in 2024? You need to know about the industry activity that occurred in 2024. The was a leadership change in the International Seabed Authority (ISA), Norway was going to explore deep sea mining, but didn't, and why my guest, Dr. Andrew Thaler won't sign on to approved deep sea mining as it is written.

In the podcast episode, host Andrew Lewin and Dr. Andrew Thaler discuss significant developments in the deep sea mining industry throughout 2024. Here are the key activities and events highlighted:

Norway's Exploration Plans: At the beginning of 2024, Norway announced plans to issue exploration permits for deep sea mining of inactive hydrothermal vents in its national waters. This decision surprised many, given Norway's strong environmental stance. However, by December 2024, due to political negotiations and pressure from smaller parties in parliament, Norway scrapped these plans.
International Seabed Authority (ISA) Leadership Change: A major shift occurred with the election of Letitia Carvalho as the new Secretary General of the ISA, replacing Michael Lodge, who had been pro-mining. Carvalho, an oceanographer and former UNEP official, is expected to bring a more science-based and environmentally conscious approach to the ISA's negotiations and policies regarding deep sea mining.
Ongoing Negotiations: The ISA has been working on a unitary mining code that covers all types of deep sea mining, including polymetallic nodule mining, hydrothermal vent mining, and seamount mining. Dr. Thaler expressed concerns that this approach could allow the worst forms of mining to proceed alongside potentially less harmful practices.
Environmental Concerns: The episode emphasizes the environmental implications of deep sea mining, particularly the irreversible damage that could result from mining hydrothermal vents, which are unique ecosystems. The discussion also touches on the potential for new research, such as the "dark oxygen" study, which suggests that polymetallic nodules may play a role in oxygen production in deep sea environments.
Geopolitical Factors: The episode highlights the geopolitical motivations behind deep sea mining, particularly for countries like the U.S., which is looking to secure access to critical minerals amid tensions with China. This has led to discussions about refining polymetallic nodules in the U.S. to enhance resource independence.
Technological Advancements: Dr. Thaler notes that advancements in battery technology, such as solid-state and sodium batteries, may reduce the demand for metals sourced from deep sea mining, potentially impacting the industry's future viability.

Overall, 2024 was a tumultuous year for deep sea mining, marked by significant political shifts, ongoing debates about environmental impacts, and evolving technological landscapes.

Helpful Links: 1) Southern Fried Science: https://www.southernfriedscience.com/deep-sea-mining-what-went-down-in-2024/ 2) Deep Sea Mining Leadership Change: https://youtu.be/cq7VaQDk_Wc 3) Dark Oxygen in the Deep Sea: https://youtu.be/Sc3gu3gHHOY

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In the podcast episode, host Andrew Lewin and Dr. Andrew Thaler discuss significant developments in the deep sea mining industry throughout 2024. Here are the key activities and events highlighted:

Norway's Exploration Plans: At the beginning of 2024, Norway announced plans to issue exploration permits for deep sea mining of inactive hydrothermal vents in its national waters. This decision surprised many, given Norway's strong environmental stance. However, by December 2024, due to political negotiations and pressure from smaller parties in parliament, Norway scrapped these plans.
International Seabed Authority (ISA) Leadership Change: A major shift occurred with the election of Letitia Carvalho as the new Secretary General of the ISA, replacing Michael Lodge, who had been pro-mining. Carvalho, an oceanographer and former UNEP official, is expected to bring a more science-based and environmentally conscious approach to the ISA's negotiations and policies regarding deep sea mining.
Ongoing Negotiations: The ISA has been working on a unitary mining code that covers all types of deep sea mining, including polymetallic nodule mining, hydrothermal vent mining, and seamount mining. Dr. Thaler expressed concerns that this approach could allow the worst forms of mining to proceed alongside potentially less harmful practices.
Environmental Concerns: The episode emphasizes the environmental implications of deep sea mining, particularly the irreversible damage that could result from mining hydrothermal vents, which are unique ecosystems. The discussion also touches on the potential for new research, such as the "dark oxygen" study, which suggests that polymetallic nodules may play a role in oxygen production in deep sea environments.
Geopolitical Factors: The episode highlights the geopolitical motivations behind deep sea mining, particularly for countries like the U.S., which is looking to secure access to critical minerals amid tensions with China. This has led to discussions about refining polymetallic nodules in the U.S. to enhance resource independence.
Technological Advancements: Dr. Thaler notes that advancements in battery technology, such as solid-state and sodium batteries, may reduce the demand for metals sourced from deep sea mining, potentially impacting the industry's future viability.

Overall, 2024 was a tumultuous year for deep sea mining, marked by significant political shifts, ongoing debates about environmental impacts, and evolving technological landscapes.

Previous Episode

New Ocean Policies Canceled that Impact the Ocean

In this episode of the "How to Protect the Ocean" podcast, host Andrew Lewin discusses the significant executive actions Donald Trump took on his first day in office that will impact ocean policies. The episode highlights several key policies that were revoked or altered, which pose threats to the ocean environment:

Revocation of Biden's Executive Orders: Trump rescinded multiple executive orders from the Biden administration to protect public health and the environment and address the climate crisis. This included orders that directed federal agencies to confront climate change and protect marine ecosystems.
Removal of Offshore Exploration Protections: Trump’s actions included the removal of protections against offshore oil and natural gas exploration on the outer continental shelf. This could lead to increased drilling activities, which are detrimental to marine environments.
National Energy Emergency Declaration: Trump declared a national energy emergency, which expedited the review and permitting processes for new oil and gas production. This declaration is seen as favoring fossil fuels over renewable energy sources, despite the latter being more cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
Halting Offshore Wind Projects: In a contradictory move, Trump issued a temporary withdrawal of all areas on the outer continental shelf from offshore wind leasing. This decision undermines the development of renewable energy sources that could help mitigate climate change.
Dismantling of the Civil Service: The reinstatement of Schedule F allows for the conversion of career civil servants into political appointees, which could weaken the scientific integrity and effectiveness of agencies like NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and BOEM (Bureau of Ocean Energy Management).
Withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord: Trump’s decision to pull out of the Paris Agreement removes the U.S. from international climate negotiations, limiting its ability to influence global climate policy and potentially exacerbating ocean-related issues.

The episode emphasizes the importance of public engagement and advocacy to counter these policies, urging listeners to contact their representatives to express support for ocean protection initiatives.

Link to article: https://www.southernfriedscience.com/how-donald-trumps-day-1-executive-actions-impact-the-ocean/

Next Episode

Bait Ball in Australia Surprised Beachgoers at Manly Beach

This bait ball in Australia surprised beachgoers at Manly Beach last week as three separate bait balls combined to form one huge ball. The bait ball is a natural process that fish use to help protect themselves against predators such as sharks, tuna, swordfish, marine mammals, and seabirds. If this was a natural process, then why were beachgoers asked to get out of the water?

Summary

In this episode of the "How to Protect the Ocean" podcast, host Andrew Lewin discusses a fascinating natural phenomenon that occurred at Manly Beach in Australia: the formation of a large bait ball. A bait ball is created when schools of fish come together in a tight formation to protect themselves from predators. This behavior is a survival strategy, as being part of a larger group reduces individual vulnerability to attacks.

The episode highlights the rare occurrence of this bait ball close to shore, which prompted lifeguards to evacuate swimmers for safety. Lewin explains that while bait balls are often seen in the open ocean, their presence in shallow waters can attract various predators, making it crucial for beachgoers to stay out of the water during such events.

The podcast also touches on the excitement generated by drone footage capturing the bait ball, likening it to scenes from nature documentaries. This event not only showcases the dynamic interactions within marine ecosystems but also emphasizes the importance of understanding these natural behaviors for ocean conservation. Overall, the episode serves as a reminder of the intricate relationships in the ocean and the need for awareness and protection of marine life.

Link to article: Link to article: https://au.news.yahoo.com/swimmers-ordered-out-of-water-as-rarely-seen-natural-event-swamps-aussie-beach-030212036.html

How To Protect The Ocean - Deep Sea Mining: What Happened In 2024?

Transcript

00:00:00.608

2024 for deep sea mining was a crazy year. So much happened. Norway started to deep sea mine. They were exploring to deep sea mine. Then all of a sudden they're not doing it anymore. What happened? There was a change in leadership with the ISA. What happened? All this stuff happened, but we didn't really know how it all happened. So actually, Dr. Andrew Thaler, who's been on the podcast before to talk about deep sea mining, contacted me and said, hey, Andrew, do you w