DEEP REST
Conservation & restoration of deep-sea ecosystems in the context of deep-sea mining
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Website project: https://deep-rest.ifremer.fr/ Social media: facebook.com/ifremer.fr | twitter.com/Ifremer_fr |
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Project coordinator: Jozée Sarrazin - jozee.sarrazin@ifremer.fr |
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| Partners | ||
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Biology & European, Public and International Law |
Belgium | |
| Development of the Uses of Resources and Marine and Coastal Spaces (Amure), Brest University/CNRS/IFREMER | France | |
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Adaptation and diversity in the marine environment (AD2M), CNRS/Sorbonne University |
France | |
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Deep Sea Ecology and Technology, Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) |
Germany | |
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Marine Geosystems, (GEOMAR) |
Germany | |
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Marine Biodiversity, Senckenberg Nature Research Society |
Germany | |
| Business and Economics( INOMICS), National University of Ireland Galway | Ireland | |
| Ocean Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research | The Nederlands | |
| Arctic Biology, University Center in Svalbard | Norway | |
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Biological Sciences, University of Bergen |
Norway | |
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Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) |
Portugal | |
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Centre for Marine and Environmental Research (CIMA) |
Portugal | |
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Okeanos, University of the Azores, Horta |
Portugal | |
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Department of Human Geography, University of Seville |
Spain | |
Abstract
The deep sea, defined as water and seafloor below 200 meters, is the largest biome on Earth accounting for 92% of the global ocean. This species-rich biome harbours numerous ecosystems including vast abyssal plains, mountain chains and canyons as well as cold-water corals, sponge grounds, hot vents and cold seeps. However, the so far relatively “pristine” deep sea is at potential risk of biodiversity and ecosystem function loss due to anthropogenic activities, including deep-sea mining. Although mineral exploitation of deep-sea resources has not yet started, the International Seabed Authority as part of its mandate defined in the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea is drafting the mining code that shall regulate exploitation in the ocean floor and subsoil thereof, beyond the limits of national jurisdiction. The ISA mandate includes the effective protection of the marine environment from harmful effects that may arise from deep-seabed related activities. DEEP REST aims at developing a novel approach to improve our capacities for science-based spatial planning and management in two ecosystems threatened by deep-sea mining. This project is extremely timely, as it directly addresses the concerns of policy-makers in a moment when seabed mining and its associated regulations are rapidly evolving from exploration to exploitation.
Reference documents
For more details on the work plan and expected impact of the project and other projects funded in response to the BiodivRestore joint call consult:
| Name | Link | ||
| DEEP REST project | |||
| BiodivRestore funded projects booklet | Download pdf | ||
Keywords: deep-sea, hydrothermal vents, nodules, seabed mining, biodiversity and ecosystem functionning, connectivity, environmental management, stakeholders, governance, policy