MIT professor urges acceptance of the science on deep sea mining
A Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) professor says some of the suggested impacts of deep sea mining are less severe than previously thought and urged everyone to accept the science in areas where the research is conclusive.
Speaking this week at a US congressional hearing on the matter, Dr. Thomas Peacock who heads MIT's Environmental Dynamics Lab, said sediment plumes are not very concerning.
Environmentalists are worried that sediment plumes from disturbance of the ocean floor could take a long time to settle and may affect the mid-water column, not just the ocean floor.
The mid water column, as the name suggests, sits between the surface of the ocean and deeper layers - starting at 600ft down and ending around 3000 ft. It's teeming with marine life, helps regulate carbon for the entire planet, and provides nutrients for the marine food chain.
But Dr Peacock told the hearing that sediments were not as big a concern.
Dr Thomas Peacock, Professor of Environmental Engineering at MIT, addressing US congressional hearing on Deep Sea Mining.
Dr. Peacock accepted that there were still questions about the effect on biodiversity and ecosystem function from deep sea mining, and urged a step by step approach that would allow for interventions or a cessation of activity.
He called on the US government to invest more in the technology required to monitor any future mining activity and invest in the necessary research.
However he said the international community involved in the debate around deep sea mining should accept settled science after reliable research is conducted.
Dr. Thomas Peacock urging the congressional hearing to accept research findings into deep sea mining whether they confirm long held views or not.
Dr Thomas who initially said he does not take a position on deep sea mining went on to urge the US to take a greater leadership role so as not to allow other countries, namely China, to emerge leaders in this area.
- All clips are courtesy of: US House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources GOP: YouTube and are therefore public domain.
- View our previous stories on this hearing:
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