Potential environmental effects of deep seabed mining

The report concerns itself with the potential environmental effects of deep seabed mining. It primarily addresses mining for manganese nodules since relatively little information is available on the other deep-sea resources and their methods of exploitation. The current status of technological developments and their potential impacts on the environment are described. Special emphasis is given to future research needs and requirements. From these it is concluded that international cooperation is required not only from a scientific perspective, but also with respect to bearing the significant cost burden associated with deep-sea environmental protection. In the last chapter, recommendations are made as to what must be achieved for protection of the oceans. These include suggestions for changes or modifications to the Mining Code being developed by the Preparatory Commission for the United Nations Seabed Authority. (orig.)SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover: RN 8908(94-126) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekBundesministerium fuer Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit, Bonn (Germany)DEGerman