Journal article
Deep seabed mining and communities: A transdisciplinary approach to ecological risk assessment in the South Pacific
Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, Vol.18(3), pp.664-673
05/2022
PMID: 34396697
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Source: InCites
Abstract
Deep-sea mineral extraction is a fledgling industry whose guiding principles, legislation, protocols, and regulations are still evolving. Responsible management of the industry is difficult when it is not clearly understood what biological and environmental diversity or ecosystem services may be at risk. But the industry's infancy provides an opportunity to address this challenge by stakeholder-led development and implementation of a multidisciplinary risk assessment framework. This article aims to present the findings of a workshop held in New Zealand that hosted stakeholders from a broad range of interests and regions in the South Pacific associated with the deep-sea mineral activity. The outputs provide stakeholder-informed ecological risk assessment approaches for deep-sea mining activities, identifying tools and techniques to improve the relevance of risk assessment of deep seabed mining projects to communities in the South Pacific. Discussions highlighted the importance of trust or respect among stakeholders, valuing the “life force” of the ocean, the importance of scientific data, and the complications associated with defining acceptable change. This research highlighted the need for a holistic transdisciplinary approach that connects science, management, industry, and community, an approach most likely to provide a “social license” to operate. There is also a need to revise traditional risk assessment methods to make them more relevant to stakeholders. The development of ecotoxicological tools and approaches is an example of how existing practices could be improved to better support deep-sea mineral management. A case study is provided that highlights the current challenges within the legislative framework of New Zealand. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2021;00:1–10. © 2021 SETAC
Details
- Title
- Deep seabed mining and communities: A transdisciplinary approach to ecological risk assessment in the South Pacific
- Creators
- Amanda Reichelt-Brushett - Southern Cross UniversityJudi Hewitt - NIWA National Institute of Water and Atmospheric ResearchStefanie Kaiser - University of ŁódźRakhyun E Kim - Utrecht UniversityRay Wodd
- Publication Details
- Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, Vol.18(3), pp.664-673
- Publisher
- John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
- Grant note
- The authors acknowledge funding provided by the Pacific‐Europe Network for Science Technology and Innovation (Pace‐Net Plus Programme). S. K. was funded by the Narodowa Agencja Wymiany Akademickiej (Poland) under the ULAM program. J. H. was partially funded by the Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge, established by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Enterprise, New Zealand.
- Identifiers
- 991012961498702368
- Copyright
- © 2021 SETAC
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; School of Environment, Science and Engineering; Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article