DEEP-SEA MINING FOR RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGIES: A CASE STUDY FOR USING BIG DATA

Abstract

Depleting terrestrial deposits and rising demand for metals in this time of climate change are stimulating interest in the deep sea — the area of the ocean below 200[Formula: see text]m — with commercial mining of mineral deposits imminent. Environmental impact assessments, effective regulation and mitigation strategies are needed to limit the impacts of deep-sea mining. This is a potential catastrophe for marine biodiversity, and use of Big Data will be needed to follow mining activities as well as chart impacts on known and unknown marine species and their habitats.