Abstract
Deep-sea polymetallic nodule mining is currently in the exploration phase with some groups proposing a move towards extraction within years1. Management of this industry requires evidence of the long-term effects on deep-sea ecosystems2, but the ability of seafloor ecosystems to recover from impacts over decadal scales is poorly understood3. Here we show that, four decades after a test mining experiment that removed nodules, the biological impacts in many groups of organisms are persistent, although populations of several organisms, including sediment macrofauna, mobile deposit feeders and even large-sized sessile fauna, have begun to re-establish despite persistent physical changes at the seafloor. We also reveal that areas affected by plumes from this small-scale test have limited detectable residual sedimentation impacts with some biological assemblages similar in abundance compared to control areas after 44 years. Although some aspects of the modern collector design may cause reduced physical impact compared to this test mining experiment, our results show that mining impacts in the abyssal ocean will be persistent over at least decadal timeframes and communities will remain altered in directly disturbed areas, despite some recolonisation. The long-term effects seen in our study provide critical data for effective management of mining activities, if they occur, including minimising direct impacts and setting aside an effective network of protected areas4,5.
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Author information
Authors and Affiliations
National Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton, UK
Daniel O. B. Jones, Loïc Van Audenhaege, Guadalupe Bribiesca-Contreras, Susan Evans, Bethany F. M. Fleming, Andrew R. Gates, Veerle A. I. Huvenne, Erik Simon-Lledó, Tim Le Bas & Catherine Wardell
Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London, UK
Maria Belen Arias, Corie Boolukos, Guadalupe Bribiesca-Contreras, Lucas D. King, Eva C. D. Stewart & Adrian G. Glover
School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
Sabena Blackbird, Rachel M. Jeffreys & Louisa Norman
Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, UK
Jonathan T. Copley, Bethany F. M. Fleming, Eva C. D. Stewart & Catherine Wardell
Scottish Association for Marine Science, Oban, Argyll, UK
Andrew Dale, Andrew K. Sweetman & Dmitry Aleynik
British Geological Survey, The Lyell Centre, Research Avenue South, Edinburgh, UK
Hannah Grant, Pierre Josso & Tracy Shimmield
Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton, Edinburgh, UK
Mark G. J. Hartl & Tracy Shimmield
Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
Erik Simon-Lledó
Eckerd College, 4200 54th Ave. S, Saint Petersburg, FL, USA
Bryan O’Malley
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
Thomas Peacock
Corresponding author
Correspondence to Daniel O. B. Jones.
Supplementary information
Supplementary Data 1
Excel file with data used in paper. Includes metadata table (Metadata) for all samples collected in Ocean Minerals Company track site on expedition JC241. A summary (Summary Data) is included, which includes the variables, units, sample types and group averages, numbers of samples and standard deviations. Worksheets containing detailed datasets on sediment chemistry (TOC_TN), grain size (Grain Size), sediment macrofauna (SedimentMacrofauna), nodule macrofauna (NoduleMacrofauna), microbes (Microbes), meiofaunal foraminifera (MeiofaunalForaminifera) and megafauna (Megafauna) are provided. These data are used in the figures and other assessments in this study.
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Jones, D.O.B., Arias, M.B., Van Audenhaege, L. et al. Long-term impact and biological recovery in a deep-sea mining track. Nature (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-08921-3
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Received20 June 2024
Accepted20 March 2025
Published26 March 2025
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-08921-3