(15 marks, 250 words)
Introduction
Deep-sea mining involves extraction of minerals such as nickel, cobalt, copper and manganese from the ocean floor, especially from polymetallic nodules. These minerals are important for clean-energy technologies and strategic industries. However, the deep ocean is a poorly understood and fragile ecosystem, making technological capability alone an insufficient basis for exploitation.
Need for a Precautionary Approach
- Scientific uncertainty: Large parts of the deep ocean remain unexplored, and many species are still being discovered.
- Irreversible habitat loss: Mining machines can remove nodules and destroy habitats that take thousands or even millions of years to form.
- Sediment plumes: Disturbed sediments may spread beyond mining sites and affect marine organisms and food chains.
- Biodiversity risk: Species could be damaged or lost before their ecological significance is understood.
- Weak recovery capacity: Deep-sea ecosystems generally recover very slowly from physical disturbance.
Need for a Sustainable Approach
- Establish genuine necessity: Mining should be permitted only when mineral demand cannot reasonably be met through safer alternatives.
- Promote circular economy: Recycling batteries, electronics and critical minerals can reduce dependence on virgin extraction.
- Improve resource efficiency: Efficient technologies and material substitution can lower mineral demand.
- Environmental safeguards: Detailed baseline studies, impact assessments and continuous monitoring must precede commercial mining.
- Protected zones: Ecologically sensitive areas should be kept permanently outside mining activity.
- Strong governance: International rules under the International Seabed Authority should ensure transparency, liability and ecosystem protection.
Conclusion
Deep-sea minerals may strengthen economic and strategic security, but the ocean floor is also valuable natural capital. Therefore, India and the world should follow the principle: Explore scientifically → assess necessity → protect sensitive ecosystems → mine only when justified and environmentally acceptable. True progress lies not merely in knowing how to mine, but also in knowing when not to mine.
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