DEEP SEA MINERALS - Vol 1 - Sea-Floor Massive Sulphides

Human activities invariably have some impact on any ecosystem, and activities in the deep sea are no exception. Sea-floor ecosystems are increasingly affected by such human activities as bottom fishing, oil drilling, and waste disposal (Polunin et al . 2008; Smith et al . 2008). With the emerging industry of deep sea mineral extraction, there is need for appropriate and responsible manage- ment strategies, with an aim to maintain overall biodiversity and ecosystem health and function. In this section, we describe the likely environmental effects of SMS extraction, with a particular em- phasis on the specific characteristics of biological communities associated with sea-floor massive sulphide habitats. Management options are discussed, and options are recommended to balance the impacts of extraction with conservation of the wider environment and faunal communities.

THE GEOLOGY OF SEA-FLOOR MASSIVE SULPHIDES 28