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

Key Messages for Environmental Management

Scientific knowledge is limited in deep sea SMS environ- ments, but sufficient knowledge exists to guide initial envi- ronmental management decisions. The faunal communities of hydrothermal vent systems are highly adapted to the specific environmental conditions of vent sites (depth, temperature, and water chemistry), and sites often have many vent-endemic species. These localized communities may be highly vulnerable to disturbance from mining operations that could affect entire vent fields. The degree of connectivity between localized communities is un- known for most species. However, because such communi- ties form around naturally ephemeral venting, they may be able to disperse and recolonize relatively quickly. In contrast to the vent communities, the fauna of the surround- ing non-hydrothermal area are often part of a wider regional species pool, and their distributions are not as localized. However, these species can be long-lived and slow-growing. As a consequence, their overall populations may be less vul- nerable to disturbance than vent communities, but very slow to recover. Due to their wide distribution, disturbance from mining activity is unlikely to affect the regional species pool.

Management of any mining operation needs to consider the range of faunal communities in the general area of mining.

Baseline studies of composition, distribution, and abun- dance of organisms are necessary before exploitation begins, and they must be followed by a regular monitoring program. Multidisciplinary science is required, involving collaboration among industry, academia/research organizations, relevant communities or interest groups and government agencies. Environmental management plans will be situation-specific, but they are likely to combine best-practice mining operation to reduce environmental impacts, spatial management that protects similar areas and communities from impact, and temporal actions that improve the chances of recolonization of fauna in mined areas. Continuation of the wide-ranging involvement from mining companies, policymakers, lawyers, managers, economists, sci- entists, conservation agencies, NGOs, and societal representa- tives will be an important element in successful management of the deep sea minerals sector in the Pacific Islands region.

THE GEOLOGY OF SEA-FLOOR MASSIVE SULPHIDES 41