Scientific Considerations for the Assessment and Management of Mine Tailings Disposal in the Deep Sea
Deep-sea tailings disposal (DSTD) and its shallow water counterpart, submarine tailings disposal (STD), are practiced in many areas of the world, whereby mining industries discharge processed mud- and rock-waste slurries (tailings) directly into the marine environment. Pipeline discharges and other...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2018-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2018.00017/full |
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| author | Lindsay L. Vare Maria C. Baker John A. Howe Lisa A. Levin Carlos Neira Eva Z. Ramirez-Llodra Amanda Reichelt-Brushett Ashley A. Rowden Tracy M. Shimmield Stuart L. Simpson Eulogio H. Soto |
| author_facet | Lindsay L. Vare Maria C. Baker John A. Howe Lisa A. Levin Carlos Neira Eva Z. Ramirez-Llodra Amanda Reichelt-Brushett Ashley A. Rowden Tracy M. Shimmield Stuart L. Simpson Eulogio H. Soto |
| author_sort | Lindsay L. Vare |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Deep-sea tailings disposal (DSTD) and its shallow water counterpart, submarine tailings disposal (STD), are practiced in many areas of the world, whereby mining industries discharge processed mud- and rock-waste slurries (tailings) directly into the marine environment. Pipeline discharges and other land-based sources of marine pollution fall beyond the regulatory scope of the London Convention and the London Protocols (LC/LP). However, guidelines have been developed in Papua New Guinea (PNG) to improve tailings waste management frameworks in which mining companies can operate. DSTD can impact ocean ecosystems in addition to other sources of stress, such as from fishing, pollution, energy extraction, tourism, eutrophication, climate change and, potentially in the future, from deep-seabed mining. Environmental management of DSTD may be most effective when placed in a broader context, drawing expertise, data and lessons from multiple sectors (academia, government, society, industry, and regulators) and engaging with international deep-ocean observing programs, databases and stewardship consortia. Here, the challenges associated with DSTD are identified, along with possible solutions, based on the results of a number of robust scientific studies. Also highlighted are the key issues, trends of improved practice and techniques that could be used if considering DSTD (such as increased precaution if considering submarine canyon locations), likely cumulative impacts, and research needed to address current knowledge gaps. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T17:17:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a2b331d1feb14bbca93eff9398d2e818 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-7745 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T17:17:05Z |
| publishDate | 2018-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-a2b331d1feb14bbca93eff9398d2e8182022-12-22T03:23:36ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452018-02-01510.3389/fmars.2018.00017319277Scientific Considerations for the Assessment and Management of Mine Tailings Disposal in the Deep SeaLindsay L. Vare0Maria C. Baker1John A. Howe2Lisa A. Levin3Carlos Neira4Eva Z. Ramirez-Llodra5Amanda Reichelt-Brushett6Ashley A. Rowden7Tracy M. Shimmield8Stuart L. Simpson9Eulogio H. Soto10The Scottish Association for Marine Science, Scottish Marine Institute, Oban, United KingdomOcean and Earth Sciences, National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton, United KingdomThe Scottish Association for Marine Science, Scottish Marine Institute, Oban, United KingdomCenter for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United StatesCenter for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United StatesNorwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Oslo, NorwayMarine Ecology and Research Centre, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, AustraliaNIWA, Wellington, New ZealandBritish Geological Survey, The Lyell Centre, Edinburgh, United KingdomCentre for Environmental Contaminants Research, CSIRO Land and Water, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaFacultad de Ciencias del Mar y de Recursos Naturales, Universidad de Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, ChileDeep-sea tailings disposal (DSTD) and its shallow water counterpart, submarine tailings disposal (STD), are practiced in many areas of the world, whereby mining industries discharge processed mud- and rock-waste slurries (tailings) directly into the marine environment. Pipeline discharges and other land-based sources of marine pollution fall beyond the regulatory scope of the London Convention and the London Protocols (LC/LP). However, guidelines have been developed in Papua New Guinea (PNG) to improve tailings waste management frameworks in which mining companies can operate. DSTD can impact ocean ecosystems in addition to other sources of stress, such as from fishing, pollution, energy extraction, tourism, eutrophication, climate change and, potentially in the future, from deep-seabed mining. Environmental management of DSTD may be most effective when placed in a broader context, drawing expertise, data and lessons from multiple sectors (academia, government, society, industry, and regulators) and engaging with international deep-ocean observing programs, databases and stewardship consortia. Here, the challenges associated with DSTD are identified, along with possible solutions, based on the results of a number of robust scientific studies. Also highlighted are the key issues, trends of improved practice and techniques that could be used if considering DSTD (such as increased precaution if considering submarine canyon locations), likely cumulative impacts, and research needed to address current knowledge gaps.http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2018.00017/fulldeep-sea tailings disposal (DSTD)improved practicechallengesenvironmental managementstakeholders |
| spellingShingle | Lindsay L. Vare Maria C. Baker John A. Howe Lisa A. Levin Carlos Neira Eva Z. Ramirez-Llodra Amanda Reichelt-Brushett Ashley A. Rowden Tracy M. Shimmield Stuart L. Simpson Eulogio H. Soto Scientific Considerations for the Assessment and Management of Mine Tailings Disposal in the Deep Sea Frontiers in Marine Science deep-sea tailings disposal (DSTD) improved practice challenges environmental management stakeholders |
| title | Scientific Considerations for the Assessment and Management of Mine Tailings Disposal in the Deep Sea |
| title_full | Scientific Considerations for the Assessment and Management of Mine Tailings Disposal in the Deep Sea |
| title_fullStr | Scientific Considerations for the Assessment and Management of Mine Tailings Disposal in the Deep Sea |
| title_full_unstemmed | Scientific Considerations for the Assessment and Management of Mine Tailings Disposal in the Deep Sea |
| title_short | Scientific Considerations for the Assessment and Management of Mine Tailings Disposal in the Deep Sea |
| title_sort | scientific considerations for the assessment and management of mine tailings disposal in the deep sea |
| topic | deep-sea tailings disposal (DSTD) improved practice challenges environmental management stakeholders |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2018.00017/full |
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