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Understanding Concerns About Seabeds
Level
Key Topics You'll Learn About in This Article
- What seabeds are and why they're ecologically important
- What deep sea mining is and how it works
- The main dangers and environmental risks of deep sea mining
- Solutions and strategies to stop or regulate harmful mining practices
As the ocean makes up a staggering 71% of our planet, a vast majority of the ocean remains undiscovered by mankind – including one seabed after another.
The seabed, otherwise the ocean floor, refers to the bottom of the ocean – which can play a pivotal role in maintaining marine ecosystems.
In this article, we’ll explain what the seabed is, how it is affected by climate change, and how we can protect seabeds moving forward.
What is a Seabed?
The seabed, or in shorter terms, the bottom of the ocean – refers to the floor of the ocean. As a result, all floors of the ocean are referred to as ‘seabeds’.
Seabeds may also be referred to as:
- Sea floor
- Ocean floor
- Ocean bottom
The seabed can contain various various different types of elements and minerals, such as sand, mud, rocks, and even trenches – all of which are vital to help sustain marine ecosystem and allow for diverse marine life.
“ The sea, the great unifier, is man's only hope. Now, as never before, the old phrase has a literal meaning: we are all in the same boat. (Jacques Yves Cousteau). ”
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Marine Organisms Dependent on the Seabed
The seabed serves as the foundation for some of Earth's most biodiverse marine ecosystems, with marine organisms such as polychaete worms, crustaceans, amphipods, and various fish dependant on seabed habitats for survival.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), over 2,000 species of benthic invertebrates have been found in the Northeast Large Marine Ecosystem alone – demonstrating the wide variety of marine organisms residing deep underneath the upper ocean.
Example of Seabed Environments
A well-known example of seabed environments include coral reefs, which represent the most biodiverse seabed-dependent ecosystems. In fact, the Coral Reef Alliance shared that that they have the highest biodiversity of any ecosystem on Earth – despite occupying less than 1% of the ocean floor.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency explains how coral reefs provide habitat for several marine organisms that reside both near and far the sea bottom: including oysters, clams, crabs, sea stars, sea urchins, and several different fish species.
As coral reefs are found in shallow waters across 159 countries on all continents except Antarctica, it demonstrates how seabed environments are pivotal to not only marine life – but our marine food chain and our global economy.
the summary (overview) cards below will reveal which organisms rely on seabed environments and water depth for organic matter and survival:
🪱
Worms
🐚
Mollusks
🦐
Crustaceans
⭐
Starfish
🌟
Brittlestars
🦞
Shrimp
🐟
Fish
🧽
Sea Cucumbers & Sea Urchins
Additional Features of Seabeds
The seabed isn’t only an important part for the marine species that dwell at the bottom of the ocean, but seabeds serve as an imperative part of human society.
Here are a few reasons why the seabed is important to mankind:
- Natural Resources – As deep mining can take place on the seabed to retrieve finite sources of energy such as natural gas, oil, and valuable minerals – deep mining the seabed remains a highly controversial source and topic. Some of the elements to be extracted from the seabed include manganese nodules, cobalt, and rare earth metals essential batteries in electronic devices.
- Fuel Our Food Chain – The seabed can not only help to keep marine ecosystems in check, as coral reefs, deep-sea vents, and kelp forests all support marine life – but it can help to fuel our own food chain as many fish and crustaceans will utilize seabeds as shelter, for eating, and for breeding. In short, without seabeds, the global fishing industry would suffer – and we would find it more challenging to feed our planet in the midst of climate change.
- Regulates Climate Change & Stores Carbon Dioxide – The ocean, covering up a mast majority of the planet, can help to absorb excess carbon dioxide that comes from burning fossil fuels. Furthermore, deep-sea ecosystems such as seagrass meadows and mangroves can act as carbon sinks and help to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
- Infrastructure Research & The Internet – Unbeknownst to most, the seabed is used to help power the internet and worldwide communication. In addition to this, the seabed is often used by scientists to explore climate history, medical opportunities from deep-sea organisms, and even tectonic activity to help understand past and future earthquakes and tsunamis.
- Renewable Energy Development – Offshore wind farms and tidal energy are both often placed on the seabed itself as the closer the wind turbines are to the water, the more available wind energy there is to be harvested.
The table below will further illustrate the ways in which the seabed is essential for modern life:
| Essential Role | Description |
|---|---|
| Food Chain & Fisheries 🐟 | The seabed provides habitat for marine life, supporting global seafood industries. |
| Global Internet & Communication 🌐 | Submarine cables on the seabed transmit over 95% of the world's internet and communications. |
| Renewable Energy ⚡ | Offshore wind farms and tidal energy projects use seabed infrastructure for clean power. |
| Carbon Storage & Climate Regulation 🌍 | Seabed sediments trap CO₂, acting as a crucial carbon sink to slow global warming. |
| Rare Earth Minerals & Resources ⛏️ | The seabed contains valuable minerals like cobalt, nickel, and manganese used in electronics and batteries. |
| Scientific Research & Medicine 🔬 | Deep-sea organisms and microbes help in medical research, leading to potential cures for diseases. |
| Weather & Climate Monitoring ⛈️ | Seabed sensors help track climate change, ocean currents, and predict natural disasters. |
Overall, the seabed serves as a vital component for marine life, ecosystems, global fisheries, helping to regulate climate change, connect the world via the Internet, and even help in the deployment of renewable energy.
How Does Climate Change Affect the Seabed?
There are several ways in which climate change has and will continue to affect the sea bed: such as with rising sea levels, rising ocean temperatures, and coastal erosion.
Here’s a breakdown of how climate change negatively impacts the seabed:
- Rising Ocean Temperatures – As temperatures in the ocean continue to skyrocket, warmer waters will contribute to coral bleaching, shifting ocean currents, and harming deep-sea organisms. All of this can impact the flow of marine nutrients and ultimately have an effect on marine biodiversity.
- Rising Sea Levels & Coastal Erosion – As global warming continues to contribute to melting glaciers and rising sea levels, coastal properties will continue to be flooded – which can also affect fisheries and marine life as more severe and frequent natural disasters will elicit eroded coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and overall sediment stability.
- Ocean Acidification – The increased absorption of CO₂ lowers ocean pH, which can weaken the shells of marine organisms such as corals, mollusks, and plankton – ultimately further disrupting the food chain in the midst of our global food crisis.
- Disrupt Deep-Sea Ecosystems – As climate change alters deep-sea currents, which means that the transport of oxygen and nutrients will be impacted – ultimately affecting seabed life. Therefore, the changes in kinetic energy in the ocean as a result of climate change could mean that several species will struggle to adapt, leading to a decline in biodiversity.
- Methane Release via Seabed – Although the ocean can often help to absorb excess emissions, in turn, rising temperatures could actually contribute to frozen methane hydrates melting and release methane gas into the atmosphere.
However, it isn't climate change directly that causes the most direct harm to the seabed, but the actions we are doing are exacerbating climate change to begin with – such as deep sea mining.
Why Should You Care About the Seabed?
Although the seabed may not have a direct impact on human beings, the ripple effect could be extraordinary – as causing harm to our marine ecosystems could compromise our own fish supply for food, impact coastal erosion and equity for existing properties, and have an impact on tourism for places such as the Great Barrier Reef.
The flip cards below (move cursor over the card to flip) will explain how damaging the seabed could impact these vital components of our society:
🐟 Food Supply
Disrupting the seabed harms fish habitats, which threatens our food systems and global fish supply.
🏝️ Coastal Erosion
Seabeds help stabilize marine geography. Damage could accelerate erosion and threaten coastal communities.
🧳 Tourism
Destinations like the Great Barrier Reef depend on marine biodiversity — which deep-sea disruption could destroy.
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What is Deep Sea Mining?
Deep sea mining refers to the ongoing, controversial commercial industry that is making an effort to mine mineral deposits and other rare earth minerals from the seabed – such as manganese, copper, cobalt, and zinc.
The main issue with deep sea mining is that it could further implicate the deeply intertwined marine ecosystem embedded deep in the ocean. According to the Ocean Foundation, deep sea mining would include extracting nodules that would eradicate various deep sea habitats – which could harm the seafloor of our lakes, rivers, and even the Atlantic Ocean.
Overall, while deep sea mining would have no impact on humans – it is bound to have a colossal affect on marine ecosystems.
“ We had at least 19 different experiments in parts of the deep sea where scientists have gone with a plough from the land and specifically disturbed the sediment in small areas, one metre wide. And there has been no recovery whatsoever in 30 years from this tiny disturbance… each mine is going to be 3000,000 square kilometres and take up sediment which is 10-20,000 years old, (so) life will never return. – (Dr. Sandor Mulsow, a Chilean professor of marine geology). ”
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Negative Impacts of Deep Sea Mining
Here are a few reasons why deep sea mining could pose further predicaments for the seabed and society as a whole:
- Impact All Levels of the Ocean – DSM, or deep sea mining, it will have an effect on all levels of the ocean – as the waste dumped into the midwater column, the physical mining will eviscerate the existing ocean floor, and potential slurry mixtures from mining will contaminate the top of the ocean. All of this could pose a threat to existing marine life and ecosystems which thrive on the seabed.
- Food & Water Contamination – Sediment plumes (otherwise known as underwater dust storms), as well as noise and light pollution, will affect much of the water column. As a result, wastewater will contain metals and toxins that could have an impact on marine ecosystems and ultimately – our food and water.
- Risk of Harming Underwater Artifacts – All of us remember the Titanic, with wealthy tourists even making trips to visit the wreckage on the seabed. It turns out, deep sea mining could have an impact on additional underwater cultural heritage. The Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH) could be at stake as proposed deep sea mining regions could compromise existing artifacts and natural environments – such as the Manila Galleon trade, World War II, and more.
- Excessive Construction Noises – No one living on a calm, peaceful oceanside residence wants their peace to be bombarded with constant loud drilling. In addition to this, the incessant construction sounds won’t only prove bothersome for humans – but the nose from mining operations, which could occur 24/7, could interfere with the frequencies that cetaceans communicate and ultimately impact their livelihood.
- Attacking the Unknowns – As a whole, one of the predominant issues with deep sea mining is our own lack and limited knowledge of what dwells at the bottom of the ocean. Since much of the seabed remains unexplored by mankind, we are unaware of how deep sea mining could impact marine habitats and ecosystems in the long-term – and what that could mean for climate change or our society.
“ Deep-sea mining can also harm marine organisms that are crucial for climate regulation – those that store carbon in the seabed or produce oxygen in the deep ocean. – (CarbonBrief). ”
In the end, deep sea mining will likely cause more harm to marine life and society than good – as the short-term gain of rare earth minerals will prove more detrimental to both the ocean and what’s above water in the long-term.
How Would Deep Seabed Mining Work?
Deep seabed mining involves extracting mineral deposits from the ocean floor at below 200 meters, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The main goal of deep seabed mining is to extract various minerals useful for commercial purposes such as mangaense, copper, zinc, and colbat.
The process of deep sea mining involves three types of deposits:
⚙️
Polymetallic Nodules
Found on abyssal plains, these potato-sized lumps are rich in manganese, nickel, cobalt, and copper — essential for electronics and renewable tech.
🌋
Seafloor Massive Sulfides
Formed at hydrothermal vents, these deposits contain valuable metals like gold, silver, and zinc — but are located in fragile ecosystems.
🪨
Ferromanganese Crusts
These cobalt-rich layers form over millions of years on underwater mountains, storing rare earth elements needed for green technologies.
These deposits are formed from complex interactions between the solid earth's volcanic rocks beneath the ocean floor and seawater, as dissolved chemicals from heated seawater interact with volcanic material – which will result in hot, acidic fluid that yields valuable sulfide materials to be found the seafloor.
Exploration
Mapping and surveying identify mineral-rich zones on the seafloor using sonar and robotic vehicles.
Extraction Prep
Equipment is positioned: large collectors, riser systems, and support vessels are mobilized.
Harvesting
Machines strip the seabed, vacuuming nodules or sulfides and transporting them to the surface.
Surface Processing
Minerals are separated from sediment aboard ships or ports; waste slurry is often discharged back.
Waste Disposal
Sediment plumes from seabed disturbance and tailings disposal pose major environmental risks.
International Seabed Authority
The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is a United Nations-affiliated intergovernmental organization established under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, with its main goal being to oversee the exploration and exploitation of deep seabed minerals found in "the Area" – or otherwise known as the areas of the seabed beyond national jurisdiction.
The ISA has been tasked to develop exploitation regulations, better known as the Mining Code, which must be finished before any commercial deep seabed mining can commence legally in international waters.
Research published by Nature implies that 2025 will be a crucial year in deciding future deep sea mining regimes, as pressure builds for the ISA to adopt commercial extraction regulations – while struggling to appease actors who are passionate about putting a halt to deep sea mining.
How Can We Protect the Seabed?
The two main ways to protect the seabed from future harm would be to avoid deep sea mining and fighting against climate change.
However, more can be done to protect the seabed from additional adverse effects – such as avoiding plastic waste, ocean pollution, and efforts to support marine conservation.
Here are some additional ways we can protect the seabed from the potential negative effects of deep sea mining and global warming:
- New Legislation – In the same way many states are drafting new environmental legislation to help curb emissions, we can employ new regulations to help mitigate plastic pollution and harm to ocean and subsequent seabed. This would include strict regulations on deep sea mining. Summits such as the United Nations Ocean Conference can help government bodies determine new ways to employ sustainable measures for the ocean.
- Avoid Plastic Waste – Helping to reduce ocean pollution and chemical runoff would mean employing stricter wastewater management and working to avoid plastic waste and chemical runoff that can make its home on the seabed – ultimately impacting marine life and ecosystems.
- Sustainable Fishing Practices – If you’ve ever seen Finding Nemo, we’re sure that you remember the scene where Dory gets trapped in a fish net and Nemo encourages everyone to swim downwards. This phenomena is called bottom trawling, which is when nets are used to catch fish that live close to the seabed. However, this can damage coral reefs and disturbs marine ecosystems – meaning that practice should be avoided if we’re to respect the seabed and surrounding marine life.
- Support Marine Research & Conservation – As we’ve said before, the majority of the ocean remains a vast mystery to us all – meaning it would be well worthwhile to invest in deep-sea research in order to better understand seabed ecosystems. In the end, this research could provide information to develop global regulations and laws for seabed protection.
Overall, deep sea mining and climate change will continue to threaten the seabed of all oceans around the world – unless we all make a concerted effort to protect the seabed and our planet moving forward.
What About Greenly?
If reading this article about seabed has inspired you to consider your company’s own carbon footprint, Greenly can help.
At Greenly we can help you to assess your company’s carbon footprint, and then give you the tools you need to cut down on emissions. We offer a free demo for you to better understand our platform and all that it has to offer – including assistance on how to reduce emissions, optimize energy efficiency, and more to help you get started on your climate journey.
Learn more about Greenly’s carbon management platform here.
Sources
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